Hurricane Kathleen (1976)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Kathleen was a hurricane of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season
that caused destructive impacts in California
. Kathleen caused widespread flooding and damage in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It also took an unusual path. On September 7, a tropical depression formed. Twelve hours later it was upgraded to tropical storm Kathleen. On the ninth it started accelerating north towards the Baja California Peninsula
. It brushed the Pacific coast of the peninsula as a hurricane on the 9th and made landfall as a fast-moving tropical storm on the 10th. With its circulation intact and still a tropical storm, Kathleen headed north into the United State and affected California
and Arizona
. Kathleen finally dissipated late on the September 11.
Damage in the United States was considerable. California received record rainfall, with over a foot of rain falling in some areas. Flooding caused catastrophic destruction to Ocotillo, California
. Six people drowned in that city. Overall, the damage total was $160 million USD and 10 deaths were blamed on the storm.
only rarely. The subtropical ridge
causes most tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere to move west. In the eastern Pacific, this causes landfalls at any location to be rare. To make landfall, troughs
are generally needed to re-curve storms. Northward movement also tends to move cyclones into unfavorable areas. Hurricane Kathleen's survival to such a northerly location was contributed to by a variety of factors. An El Niño caused warmer waters. Kathleen's rapid forward speed allowed it to keep its strength for a long time over land. The time of its genesis was near the peak of the season. Kathleen is one of only six recorded tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific Ocean known to have brought gale-force or hurricane-force winds to the Continental United States.
. Moving rapidly west-northwest, a tropical depression formed on September 7. While moving a little towards the south, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Kathleen. Over 83 °F (28.3 °C) sea surface temperatures, Kathleen quickly strengthened. Before passing 40 mi (64.4 km) east of Socorro Island
, Kathleen reached its secondary peak with winds of 65 mph (115 km/h). After doing so, Kathleen weakened considerably, and by 0600 UTC September 9, Tropical Storm Kathleen was barely a tropical storm. At this time, the system was located at 55 mi (88.5 km) north of the island. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen turned north-northeast into warmer waters.
Subsequently, the tropical storm began to re-strengthen. Despite moving rapidly north, the cyclone strengthened into Hurricane Kathleen. The hurricane passed near several ships, and was respectively intercepted by Hurricane Hunters early on September 10. It is estimated that the storm peaked in intensity around that time, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 986 mb. However, Kathleen never developed an eye
. About an hour after the first flight reached Kathleen, a second flight suggested that Kathleen had weakened back into a tropical storm. With precipitation falling in the United States, some 700 mi (1,126.5 km) north of the tropical cyclone's atmospheric circulation
, Kathleen accelerated to speeds of 35 mph (56.3 km/h)-38 mph (61.2 km/h).
After crossing the Piont Enegia Peninsula later that morning on September 10, Kathleen made its second landfall
120 mi (193.1 km) north of Ensenada at 1130 UTC the same day. Unlike most tropical cyclones, Kathleen weakened only slowly over California. Skinny, Tropical Storm Kathleen weakened into a depression over southern California
and shortly thereafter, moved across Death Valley
. On September 11, Kathleen entered western Nevada
, and quickly passed west of Beatty
. Finally, the center became difficult to locate, and the depression finally dissipated later on September 11. After undergoing a Fujiwhara-like interaction
with a low-pressure area stalled off the Pacific coast, Moisture later spread into the northwestern part of the country. After the stalled low was pulled inland, Kathleen combined with the low to produce additional rainfall over parts of California.
, to the east of its track. The highest amount reported was 6.52 in (165.6 mm) in San Antonio.
. For a time, the sustained winds exceeded 50 mph (80.5 km/h), with gusts up to 76 mph (122.3 km/h). Rains caused severe flash-flooding in Mohave County
. One man was killed when the wind blew a palm tree onto his mobile home and 13 people across the state were hurt. The Tucson metropolitan area was particularly hard hit with flash flooding, with hail the size of a golf ball
. On Mount Lemmon
, hail ground to a depth of 5 in (12.7 cm). While most of the rainfall from Tropical Storm Kathleen fell in California
, 2.87 inches (7.3 cm) fell at the Davis Dam
on the Colorado River
.
because the village is situated atop an alluvial fan
. A 40 ft (12.2 m) wall of water exited a mountain canyon, thus flooding Ocotllio with 4 feet (1.2 m)-6 ft (1.8 m) of water. A quarter mile of interstate and a 60-foot bridge were destroyed by the flood, which also washed away mobile homes, trucks, and cars. Six people drowned in the mud and waters in the town and two people were initially reported missing, though they were later found by officials. Overall, Ocotllio was 70%-80% destroyed. Officials evacuated 175 people from the flooded area of Ocotllio and the nearby communities that surround the Salton Sea
. The sea itself rose 6 in (152.4 mm)-8 in (203.2 mm). In Los Angeles
, two people died of injuries suffered from slippery-roads. One man drowned in El Centro. Record flood stage was attained at numerous streams near the Coachella Valley
. Widespread property damage on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada as well as the nearby desert.
Several miles of railway track, three trestles
that belonged to the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
were destroyed, and five others were damaged. At more than 50 other locations, tracks were buried by mudslides or had the ground under them washed away. After assessing the damage from Kathleen, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company decided in 1977 to abandon most of a railroad. A 700 ft (213.4 m) section of Interstate 8 from Yuma to San Degio was destroyed.
Homeowners in Palm Desert
received considerable damage from the storm. Many flood control
structures throughout the area failed to work. The control structures in the area were rebuilt, and they withstood Hurricane Doreen's remnants during the 1977 Pacific hurricane season
. Overall, Tropical Storm Kathleen was described as a one and 160 year event, with a damage total of $160 million USD. This made it one of the most expensive tropical storms in state history. Parts of California were declared a disaster area
.
in the state's history. In Montana
, Kathleen dropped locally heavy rainfall approaching 2 inches (50.8 mm) in localized spots enough to become the wettest known tropical cyclone
in state history.
1976 Pacific hurricane season
The 1976 Pacific hurricane season was a very deadly and costly one. Hurricanes Kathleen, Liza, and Madeline were the most notable storms this year. Hurricane Kathleen caused death and destruction in California and Arizona due to flooding. Hurricane Liza was the deadliest storm of the season when it...
that caused destructive impacts in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Kathleen caused widespread flooding and damage in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It also took an unusual path. On September 7, a tropical depression formed. Twelve hours later it was upgraded to tropical storm Kathleen. On the ninth it started accelerating north towards the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. It brushed the Pacific coast of the peninsula as a hurricane on the 9th and made landfall as a fast-moving tropical storm on the 10th. With its circulation intact and still a tropical storm, Kathleen headed north into the United State and affected California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Kathleen finally dissipated late on the September 11.
Damage in the United States was considerable. California received record rainfall, with over a foot of rain falling in some areas. Flooding caused catastrophic destruction to Ocotillo, California
Ocotillo, California
Ocotillo is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. Ocotillo is located west of El Centro, The population was 266 at the 2010 census, down from 296 at the 2000 census...
. Six people drowned in that city. Overall, the damage total was $160 million USD and 10 deaths were blamed on the storm.
Background
Tropical cyclones bring gale-force winds to the Southwestern United StatesSouthwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
only rarely. The subtropical ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
causes most tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere to move west. In the eastern Pacific, this causes landfalls at any location to be rare. To make landfall, troughs
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
are generally needed to re-curve storms. Northward movement also tends to move cyclones into unfavorable areas. Hurricane Kathleen's survival to such a northerly location was contributed to by a variety of factors. An El Niño caused warmer waters. Kathleen's rapid forward speed allowed it to keep its strength for a long time over land. The time of its genesis was near the peak of the season. Kathleen is one of only six recorded tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific Ocean known to have brought gale-force or hurricane-force winds to the Continental United States.
Meteorological history
A large area of thunderstorms, with a diameter of about 500 mi (804.7 km), formed 270 mi (434.5 km) southwest of AcapulcoAcapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
. Moving rapidly west-northwest, a tropical depression formed on September 7. While moving a little towards the south, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Kathleen. Over 83 °F (28.3 °C) sea surface temperatures, Kathleen quickly strengthened. Before passing 40 mi (64.4 km) east of Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
, Kathleen reached its secondary peak with winds of 65 mph (115 km/h). After doing so, Kathleen weakened considerably, and by 0600 UTC September 9, Tropical Storm Kathleen was barely a tropical storm. At this time, the system was located at 55 mi (88.5 km) north of the island. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen turned north-northeast into warmer waters.
Subsequently, the tropical storm began to re-strengthen. Despite moving rapidly north, the cyclone strengthened into Hurricane Kathleen. The hurricane passed near several ships, and was respectively intercepted by Hurricane Hunters early on September 10. It is estimated that the storm peaked in intensity around that time, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 986 mb. However, Kathleen never developed an eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
. About an hour after the first flight reached Kathleen, a second flight suggested that Kathleen had weakened back into a tropical storm. With precipitation falling in the United States, some 700 mi (1,126.5 km) north of the tropical cyclone's atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
, Kathleen accelerated to speeds of 35 mph (56.3 km/h)-38 mph (61.2 km/h).
After crossing the Piont Enegia Peninsula later that morning on September 10, Kathleen made its second landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
120 mi (193.1 km) north of Ensenada at 1130 UTC the same day. Unlike most tropical cyclones, Kathleen weakened only slowly over California. Skinny, Tropical Storm Kathleen weakened into a depression over southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and shortly thereafter, moved across Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
. On September 11, Kathleen entered western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and quickly passed west of Beatty
Beatty, Nevada
Beatty is a census-designated place along the Amargosa River in Nye County in the U.S. state of Nevada. U.S. Route 95 runs through the CDP, which lies between Tonopah, about to the north, and Las Vegas, about to the southeast. State Route 374 connects Beatty to Death Valley National Park, about ...
. Finally, the center became difficult to locate, and the depression finally dissipated later on September 11. After undergoing a Fujiwhara-like interaction
Fujiwhara effect
The Fujiwhara effect or Fujiwara interaction, named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other.-Description:...
with a low-pressure area stalled off the Pacific coast, Moisture later spread into the northwestern part of the country. After the stalled low was pulled inland, Kathleen combined with the low to produce additional rainfall over parts of California.
Mexico
The bulk of the rainfall from the tropical cyclone fell over Baja California Norte and Baja California SurBaja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
, to the east of its track. The highest amount reported was 6.52 in (165.6 mm) in San Antonio.
Arizona
On September 10 and September 11, gale-force winds resulted in considerable damage to YumaYuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
. For a time, the sustained winds exceeded 50 mph (80.5 km/h), with gusts up to 76 mph (122.3 km/h). Rains caused severe flash-flooding in Mohave County
Mohave County, Arizona
Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 200,186, an increase of 45,154 people since the 2000 census count of 155,032. The county seat is Kingman...
. One man was killed when the wind blew a palm tree onto his mobile home and 13 people across the state were hurt. The Tucson metropolitan area was particularly hard hit with flash flooding, with hail the size of a golf ball
Golf ball
A golf ball is a ball designed to be used in the game of golf.Under the Rules of Golf, a golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 oz , has a diameter not less than 1.680 in , and performs within specified velocity, distance, and symmetry limits...
. On Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is in the Santa Catalina Mountains located in the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. It is above sea-level, and receives approximately 180 inches of snow annually. Mount Lemmon was named in honor of botanist Sarah Lemmon, who trekked to the top of...
, hail ground to a depth of 5 in (12.7 cm). While most of the rainfall from Tropical Storm Kathleen fell in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 2.87 inches (7.3 cm) fell at the Davis Dam
Davis Dam
Davis Dam is a dam on the Colorado River about downstream from Hoover Dam. It stretches across the border between Arizona and Nevada. Originally called Bullhead Dam, Davis Dam was renamed after Arthur Powell Davis, who was the director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1932...
on the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
California
The state received record rainfall, with 14.76 in (37.5 cm) falling on the southern slopes of Mount San Gorgonio, and 10.13 in (25.7 cm) accumulated on Mount Laguna. Flooding caused catastrophic destruction to OcotilloOcotillo, California
Ocotillo is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. Ocotillo is located west of El Centro, The population was 266 at the 2010 census, down from 296 at the 2000 census...
because the village is situated atop an alluvial fan
Alluvial fan
An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain. A convergence of neighboring alluvial fans into a single apron of deposits against a slope is called a bajada, or compound alluvial...
. A 40 ft (12.2 m) wall of water exited a mountain canyon, thus flooding Ocotllio with 4 feet (1.2 m)-6 ft (1.8 m) of water. A quarter mile of interstate and a 60-foot bridge were destroyed by the flood, which also washed away mobile homes, trucks, and cars. Six people drowned in the mud and waters in the town and two people were initially reported missing, though they were later found by officials. Overall, Ocotllio was 70%-80% destroyed. Officials evacuated 175 people from the flooded area of Ocotllio and the nearby communities that surround the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
. The sea itself rose 6 in (152.4 mm)-8 in (203.2 mm). In Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, two people died of injuries suffered from slippery-roads. One man drowned in El Centro. Record flood stage was attained at numerous streams near the Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley is a large valley landform in Southern California. The valley extends for approximately 45 miles in Riverside County southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the saltwater Salton Sea, the largest lake in California...
. Widespread property damage on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada as well as the nearby desert.
Several miles of railway track, three trestles
Trestles
Trestles is a collection of surfing spots at San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, California. Trestles consists of, from north to south, Upper Trestles , Lower Trestles , and Middle Trestles . North of Upper Trestles is the surf spot called Cottons...
that belonged to the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels...
were destroyed, and five others were damaged. At more than 50 other locations, tracks were buried by mudslides or had the ground under them washed away. After assessing the damage from Kathleen, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company decided in 1977 to abandon most of a railroad. A 700 ft (213.4 m) section of Interstate 8 from Yuma to San Degio was destroyed.
Homeowners in Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
received considerable damage from the storm. Many flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
structures throughout the area failed to work. The control structures in the area were rebuilt, and they withstood Hurricane Doreen's remnants during the 1977 Pacific hurricane season
1977 Pacific hurricane season
The 1977 Pacific hurricane season was, at the time, the least active in recorded history. Only eight tropical storms formed, and four hurricanes; they would be tied and surpassed, respectively, by the 2010 Pacific hurricane season. There were no major hurricanes; the next time this happened would...
. Overall, Tropical Storm Kathleen was described as a one and 160 year event, with a damage total of $160 million USD. This made it one of the most expensive tropical storms in state history. Parts of California were declared a disaster area
Disaster area
A disaster area is a region or a locale heavily damaged by either natural hazards, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, technological hazards including nuclear and radiation accidents, or sociological hazards like riots, terrorism or war. The population living there often...
.
Wyoming and Montana
In Wyoming, the cyclone is credited with the first known sighting of a White IbisAmerican White Ibis
The American White Ibis is a species of wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. It occurs from the mid-Atlantic and Gulf coast of the United States south through most of the New World tropics...
in the state's history. In Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Kathleen dropped locally heavy rainfall approaching 2 inches (50.8 mm) in localized spots enough to become the wettest known tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
in state history.
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of California hurricanes
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in California
