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Hurricane Pauline (1968)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Pauline was the deadliest hurricane of the 1968 Pacific hurricane season
. Forming from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone
on September 26 and becoming a tropical storm on September 29, the hurricane strengthened to a peak of 85 mi/h as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
on September 30 before making landfall
just east of La Paz, Baja California Sur
, near Ciudad Constitución
in Mexico, exiting over the Gulf of California
. Before making a second landfall on the state of Sonora
on October 3, Pauline lost tropical characteristics. The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón
before dissipating south-southeast of Sierra Vista, Arizona
.
There is very little information as to the effects of Pauline on Mexico, but during the passage of the hurricane over Magdalena Bay
, a boat disappeared with its five occupants. Despite a large-scale search for the boat or any possible remnants, no trace was ever found. The remnants of Pauline triggered showers over the southwest United States and may have been responsible for a damaging tornado
which occurred near Glendale, Arizona
.
disturbance that developed into Hurricane Pauline was first noticed by meteorologists 200 mi (321.9 km) southeast of Acapulco
and 1500 mi (2,414 km)-2000 mi (3,218.7 km) west of dissipating Tropical Storm Orla. The disturbance was in a large area of convection west of Guatemala
in the Gulf of Tehuantepec
that began to spread 500 mi (804.7 km) to the west-northwest on September 26. Satellite imagery
at this time showed an area of reflective clouds roughly 500 mi (804.7 km) long and 200 mi (321.9 km) wide. Shortly thereafter, the disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression. After being upgraded, a vortex
began to organize at its center and the depression began to intensify. On September 29, a ship 200 mi (321.9 km) south of the center reported winds of 17 mi/h to 23 mi/h and a minimum pressure of 1008 mbar
, the only pressure reading left on best track data for the entire season. Other than this ship, all other active boats steered away from the center
of the developing system. Later that day, it was determined that the depression had reached tropical storm strength.
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After being named, Pauline displayed signs of a tight circulation
, but satellite pictures
were unable to pick up any distinct features due to nearby cirrus outflow
. Later that day, however, satellites picked up a feature in the hurricane that resembled an eye
, but closer inspection showed that the eye was either a shadow or a gap between bands and that the real center was 50 mi (80.5 km) west of the eye. On September 30, the storm turned to the northwest and its forward speed accelerated to 9 mi/h. Around this time, a satellite picture showed a genuine eye beginning to form and banding features
became apparent. Even though the picture was distorted due to by electronic problems, the tropical storm was subsequently upgraded to hurricane intensity. On October 1, the ship Overseas Joyce recorded 80 mi/h to 85 mi/h north-northeast winds, a heavy swell from the east-southeast and a pressure of 1002 mbar. An estimate based on satellite pictures placed the Overseas Joyce at 15 mi (24.1 km) to 20 mi (32.2 km) away from the center. Another nearby ship, the Golden Eagle, reported south-southeast winds of 50 mi/h and high seas 75 mi (120.7 km) east of the center.
Further investigation into the hurricane was limited to ship reports, and a satellite image on October 1 was mostly not helpful due to another electronic problem; however, it showed that the hurricane had shrunk. A United States Air Force
reconnaissance plane
flew into the hurricane that day and reported that the eyewall
was open on the southwest quadrant. After the breakup of the first eyewall, a break in the clouds lead to the possibility that another eye was forming 30 mi (48.3 km) to the north-northwest of the previous eye.
No information on the hurricane was available for October 2, when it made landfall near Ciudad Constitutión in Baja California Sur
. After landfall, La Paz
reported winds of 60 mi/h from the northwest, which began weakening in the next hour. Satellite imagery
showed that Pauline had moved over the Gulf of California
, the interaction with land having weakened it to a tropical storm. The storm moved north, making a second landfall near Navojoa
. The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón
. The storm dissipated south-southeast of Sierra Vista in Arizona
.
-based newspaper reported that a tourist in Mazatlán
at the time had sent a card saying that the hurricane was responsible for cutting off-shore capers. Mexican Navy
members in Magdalena Bay reported that while passing over, Pauline had clocked winds of 115 mi/h, the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Navy report of 115 mi/h winds came after another report that the 40 feet (12.2 m) auxiliary-powered yawl
called the Tiare was missing in the same bay. The ship had left Newport Harbor on September 25 with the destination being Puerto Vallarta
and was occupied by a family of five people. The last reported sighting of the yawl was off Cedros Island
. After the report of the missing yawl was received, the United States Coast Guard
engineered a search for the vessel. The search was called off after covering an area of 50000 mi2 with no results. The ship was reported as lost and the five occupants were listed as dead. Despite not finding any sign of the ship, the Coast Guard was praised for the extensive search.
The remnants of Pauline were responsible for scattered showers in an area ranging from southern California
to Utah
and New Mexico
. In Arizona
, Tucson
, Phoenix
, and Gila Bend
all reported rain on October 3 even though Pauline was centered 200 mi (321.9 km) southeast of Douglas
. The remnants also caused an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale
. The tornado touched down near Glendale
and followed an erratic path to the west, injuring three people due to flying glass, one of which was hospitalized due to their injuries, and causing severe damage to two apartment buildings. Automobiles were damaged by falling concrete blocks and various buildings and trailers
were also damaged. In total, the tornado was responsible for $50,000 to $500,000 in damages.
1968 Pacific hurricane season
The 1968 Pacific hurricane season ties the record for having the most active August in terms of tropical storms. It officially started on May 15, 1968 in the eastern Pacific and June 1 in the central Pacific and lasted until November 30, 1968...
. Forming from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone
Intertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
on September 26 and becoming a tropical storm on September 29, the hurricane strengthened to a peak of 85 mi/h as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
on September 30 before making 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...
just 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...
, near Ciudad Constitución
Ciudad Constitución
Ciudad Constitución is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is the seat of the municipality of Comondú and is located 210 kilometers north of La Paz, Baja California Sur, and 147 kilometers south of Loreto, Baja California Sur. Ciudad Constitución's population was 40,935...
in Mexico, exiting over 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...
. Before making a second landfall on the state of 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 3, Pauline lost tropical characteristics. The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
before dissipating south-southeast of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 43,044....
.
There is very little information as to the effects of Pauline on Mexico, but during the passage of the hurricane over Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay
Bahía Magdalena is a 50 km long bay in Comondú Municipality along the western coast of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is protected from the Pacific Ocean by the sandy barrier islands of Isla Magdalena and Isla Santa Margarita....
, a boat disappeared with its five occupants. Despite a large-scale search for the boat or any possible remnants, no trace was ever found. The remnants of Pauline triggered showers over the southwest United States and may have been responsible for a damaging tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
which occurred near Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
.
Meteorological history
The Intertropical Convergence ZoneIntertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
disturbance that developed into Hurricane Pauline was first noticed by meteorologists 200 mi (321.9 km) southeast of Acapulco
Acapulco
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...
and 1500 mi (2,414 km)-2000 mi (3,218.7 km) west of dissipating Tropical Storm Orla. The disturbance was in a large area of convection west of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
in the Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec is a large body of water on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southeastern Mexico, at . Most of the hurricanes that form in the Eastern Pacific organize in or near this body of water...
that began to spread 500 mi (804.7 km) to the west-northwest on September 26. Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
at this time showed an area of reflective clouds roughly 500 mi (804.7 km) long and 200 mi (321.9 km) wide. Shortly thereafter, the disturbance was upgraded into a tropical depression. After being upgraded, a vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
began to organize at its center and the depression began to intensify. On September 29, a ship 200 mi (321.9 km) south of the center reported winds of 17 mi/h to 23 mi/h and a minimum pressure of 1008 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
, the only pressure reading left on best track data for the entire season. Other than this ship, all other active boats steered away from the center
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....
of the developing system. Later that day, it was determined that the depression had reached tropical storm strength.
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....
, but satellite pictures
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
were unable to pick up any distinct features due to nearby cirrus outflow
Cirrus cloud
Cirrus clouds are atmospheric clouds generally characterized by thin, wispy strands, giving them their name from the Latin word cirrus meaning a ringlet or curling lock of hair...
. Later that day, however, satellites picked up a feature in the hurricane that resembled 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...
, but closer inspection showed that the eye was either a shadow or a gap between bands and that the real center was 50 mi (80.5 km) west of the eye. On September 30, the storm turned to the northwest and its forward speed accelerated to 9 mi/h. Around this time, a satellite picture showed a genuine eye beginning to form and banding features
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
became apparent. Even though the picture was distorted due to by electronic problems, the tropical storm was subsequently upgraded to hurricane intensity. On October 1, the ship Overseas Joyce recorded 80 mi/h to 85 mi/h north-northeast winds, a heavy swell from the east-southeast and a pressure of 1002 mbar. An estimate based on satellite pictures placed the Overseas Joyce at 15 mi (24.1 km) to 20 mi (32.2 km) away from the center. Another nearby ship, the Golden Eagle, reported south-southeast winds of 50 mi/h and high seas 75 mi (120.7 km) east of the center.
Further investigation into the hurricane was limited to ship reports, and a satellite image on October 1 was mostly not helpful due to another electronic problem; however, it showed that the hurricane had shrunk. A United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
reconnaissance plane
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
flew into the hurricane that day and reported that the eyewall
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...
was open on the southwest quadrant. After the breakup of the first eyewall, a break in the clouds lead to the possibility that another eye was forming 30 mi (48.3 km) to the north-northwest of the previous eye.
No information on the hurricane was available for October 2, when it made landfall near Ciudad Constitutión in Baja California Sur
Baja 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...
. After landfall, La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
reported winds of 60 mi/h from the northwest, which began weakening in the next hour. Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
showed that Pauline had moved over 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...
, the interaction with land having weakened it to a tropical storm. The storm moved north, making a second landfall near Navojoa
Navojoa
Navojoa is the fifth-largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated in the southern part of Sonora, south of the state's border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the administrative seat of a large municipality, located in the Mayo River Valley.-History:The city name...
. The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
. The storm dissipated south-southeast of Sierra Vista in 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...
.
Impact, records, and naming
Damage totals from Baja California Sur in relation to the hurricane were never received, but light damage was reported in Navojoa. The PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
-based newspaper reported that a tourist in Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
at the time had sent a card saying that the hurricane was responsible for cutting off-shore capers. Mexican Navy
Mexican Navy
The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
members in Magdalena Bay reported that while passing over, Pauline had clocked winds of 115 mi/h, the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Navy report of 115 mi/h winds came after another report that the 40 feet (12.2 m) auxiliary-powered yawl
Yawl
A yawl is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an additional mast located well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom, specifically aft of the rudder post. A yawl (from Dutch Jol) is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an...
called the Tiare was missing in the same bay. The ship had left Newport Harbor on September 25 with the destination being Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
and was occupied by a family of five people. The last reported sighting of the yawl was off Cedros Island
Cedros Island
Cedros Island is a Mexican island in the Pacific Ocean....
. After the report of the missing yawl was received, the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
engineered a search for the vessel. The search was called off after covering an area of 50000 mi2 with no results. The ship was reported as lost and the five occupants were listed as dead. Despite not finding any sign of the ship, the Coast Guard was praised for the extensive search.
The remnants of Pauline were responsible for scattered showers in an area ranging from 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...
to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. In 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...
, Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and Gila Bend
Gila Bend, Arizona
Gila Bend , founded in 1872, is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The town is named for an approximately 90-degree bend in the Gila River, which is close to but not precisely at the community's current location...
all reported rain on October 3 even though Pauline was centered 200 mi (321.9 km) southeast of Douglas
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
. The remnants also caused an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
. The tornado touched down near Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
and followed an erratic path to the west, injuring three people due to flying glass, one of which was hospitalized due to their injuries, and causing severe damage to two apartment buildings. Automobiles were damaged by falling concrete blocks and various buildings and trailers
Mobile home
Mobile homes or static caravans are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied...
were also damaged. In total, the tornado was responsible for $50,000 to $500,000 in damages.