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Hurricane Liza (1976)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Liza was one of the deadliest East Pacific tropical cyclones on record. The seventeenth tropical cyclone, thirteenth named storm, and the eight hurricane of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season
, Liza developed from an area of disturbed weather to the southwest of Mexico on September 25. Developing as a tropical depression, it gradually intensified into Tropical Storm Liza later on the following day. Liza continued north-northeastward and steadily strengthened. By September 28, Liza was upgraded to a hurricane. Thereafter, Liza began to steadily deepen, and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane from late on September 28 to early on September 30. Thereafter, Liza weakened in the Gulf of California
, and was a Category 3 hurricane when the storm made landfall near Guaymas
, Sonora
on October 1. Liza rapidly deteriorated while moving inland, and dissipated on the following day.
Liza brought heavy rainfall, which caused significant flash flooding. A dike burst and hundreds of people were swept away by flood water. In addition, high winds produced by the storm tore off roofs. Overall, at least 650 fatalities and $100 million (1976 USD) in damage are attributed to the hurricane.
, Guerrero
. The depression gradually intensified as it tracked west-northwestward, and became Tropical Storm Liza at 1800 UTC on the following day. Thereafter, Liza turned to the north-northeast and began to strengthen while moving through sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 85 °F (29.4 °C). Early on September 28, Liza intensified into a hurricane, while developed an eye 17 miles (27.4 km) in diameter. However, operationally, Liza was not upgraded to a hurricane until 18 hours later.
Liza continued to track over warm SST's, and by late on September 29, an Air Force reconnaissance flight into the storm indicated sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). However, sustained winds were actually at 140 mph (220 km/h), which is low-end Category 4 intensity. Though Liza encountered SST's of 88 °F (31.1 °C), it did not strengthen further. Late on September 30, Liza passed about 65 miles (104.6 km) east of Cabo San Lucas
. Early on October 1, Liza entered the Gulf of California passed 52 miles (83.7 km) east of La Paz, Baja California Sur
. By 1300 UTC on October 1, Liza made landfall about 52 miles (83.7 km) north of Los Mochis, Sinaloa with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm rapidly weakened inland, and dissipated on the following day.
, rains caused flash flood
ing. The El Cajoncito Creek on the outskirts of the city grew into a raging torrent. During night October 1, waters burst a dike. A five-foot wall of water raged through a poor section of the city, washing away and burying in mud over 600 people. Around 350 other people were reported missing. The dam had been described as "poorly built and a permanent menace". In all, at least 650 people lost their lives, though some reports claim that upwards of 7,000 perished in the storm.
The flood left a deep layer of mud. The large number of dead resulted in some of them being burned to prevent disease. The Mexican government eventually launched an investigation into the dam failure.
In the states of Sinaloa
and Sonora
, Liza winds peeled of roofs while its storm surge washed ashore. Numerous crops were destroyed. The total cost of damage in Baja California Sur was around 5 million dollars, and unknown elsewhere.
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...
, Liza developed from an area of disturbed weather to the southwest of Mexico on September 25. Developing as a tropical depression, it gradually intensified into Tropical Storm Liza later on the following day. Liza continued north-northeastward and steadily strengthened. By September 28, Liza was upgraded to a hurricane. Thereafter, Liza began to steadily deepen, and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane from late on September 28 to early on September 30. Thereafter, Liza weakened in the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
, and was a Category 3 hurricane when the storm made landfall near Guaymas
Guaymas
Guaymas is a city and municipality located in the southwest part of the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The city is located 117 km south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and 242 miles from the U.S. border, and is the principal port for the state. The municipality is located in the...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
on October 1. Liza rapidly deteriorated while moving inland, and dissipated on the following day.
Liza brought heavy rainfall, which caused significant flash flooding. A dike burst and hundreds of people were swept away by flood water. In addition, high winds produced by the storm tore off roofs. Overall, at least 650 fatalities and $100 million (1976 USD) in damage are attributed to the hurricane.
Meteorological history
An area of intense thunderstorms developed well southwest of Mexico on September 25. By later that day, satellite imagery indicated that the system had developed a cyclonic circulation. It is estimated that a tropical depression developed at 1800 UTC on September 25 while centered about 485 miles (780.5 km) northeast-by-east of ZihuatanejoZihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Politically the city belongs to the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in the western part of Guerrero, but both are commonly referred to as Zihuatanejo...
, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
. The depression gradually intensified as it tracked west-northwestward, and became Tropical Storm Liza at 1800 UTC on the following day. Thereafter, Liza turned to the north-northeast and began to strengthen while moving through sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 85 °F (29.4 °C). Early on September 28, Liza intensified into a hurricane, while developed an eye 17 miles (27.4 km) in diameter. However, operationally, Liza was not upgraded to a hurricane until 18 hours later.
Liza continued to track over warm SST's, and by late on September 29, an Air Force reconnaissance flight into the storm indicated sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). However, sustained winds were actually at 140 mph (220 km/h), which is low-end Category 4 intensity. Though Liza encountered SST's of 88 °F (31.1 °C), it did not strengthen further. Late on September 30, Liza passed about 65 miles (104.6 km) east of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
. Early on October 1, Liza entered the Gulf of California passed 52 miles (83.7 km) east of La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
. By 1300 UTC on October 1, Liza made landfall about 52 miles (83.7 km) north of Los Mochis, Sinaloa with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm rapidly weakened inland, and dissipated on the following day.
Impact
Liza brought heavy rains. Near La Paz, Baja California SurLa Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
, rains caused flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
ing. The El Cajoncito Creek on the outskirts of the city grew into a raging torrent. During night October 1, waters burst a dike. A five-foot wall of water raged through a poor section of the city, washing away and burying in mud over 600 people. Around 350 other people were reported missing. The dam had been described as "poorly built and a permanent menace". In all, at least 650 people lost their lives, though some reports claim that upwards of 7,000 perished in the storm.
The flood left a deep layer of mud. The large number of dead resulted in some of them being burned to prevent disease. The Mexican government eventually launched an investigation into the dam failure.
In the states of Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
and Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Liza winds peeled of roofs while its storm surge washed ashore. Numerous crops were destroyed. The total cost of damage in Baja California Sur was around 5 million dollars, and unknown elsewhere.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- Other tropical cyclones named LizaHurricane LizaThe name Liza has been used for four tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Liza is not to be confused with Lisa, which is used in the Atlantic Basin.* 1961's Tropical Storm Liza - A minimal storm that did not affect land....
