1939 California tropical storm
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 15, 1939 |
Dissipated | September 25, 1939 |
Category 1 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 75 mph (120 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 971 mbar (hPa); 28.67 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 45–93 direct |
Damage | $2 million (1939 USD) |
Areas affected | Southern California, northwestern Mexico |
Part of the 1939 Pacific hurricane season |
The 1939 California tropical storm, also known as the 1939 Long Beach tropical storm, and El Cordonazo (referring to the Cordonazo winds or the "Lash of St. Francis" (Spanish: el cordonazo de San Francisco)), was a tropical cyclone that affected Southern California in September 1939. Formerly classified a hurricane,[1] it was the first tropical cyclone to directly affect California since the 1858 San Diego hurricane,[2] and is the only tropical cyclone of tropical-storm strength (or greater) to make landfall in the U.S. state of California.[3] The storm caused heavy flooding, leaving many dead, mostly at sea.[1]
Meteorological synopsis
On September 15, a tropical depression formed off the southern coast of
Due to the rotation of the Earth, tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere tend to move from east to west. This causes tropical cyclones to approach the West Coast of the United States infrequently. Another inhibiting factor for a California landfall is the surrounding water temperatures. Because of the water currents, the waters off the coast of California are rarely above 70 °F (21 °C), which is too cold for hurricanes to sustain themselves.[5] This tropical cyclone was rare enough that only three other eastern Pacific tropical cyclones brought tropical storm-force winds to the Continental United States during the twentieth century. The Long Beach Tropical Storm was the only one to make landfall; the other three hit Mexico before moving north, but didn't make landfall in California.[2]
Preparations and impact
The storm dropped heavy rain in California, with 5.66 inches (144 mm) falling in Los Angeles (5.24 inches or 133 millimetres in 24 hours) and 11.60 inches (295 mm) recorded at Mount Wilson, both September records. Over three hours, one thunderstorm dropped nearly 7 inches (180 mm) of rain on Indio. 9.65 inches (245 mm) fell on Raywood Flat, and 1.51 inches (38 mm) on Palm Springs.[1] 4.83 inches (123 mm) fell on Pasadena, a September record at the time. At the Citrus Belt near Anaheim, at least 4.63 inches (118 mm) of rain fell. The 11.60 inches (295 mm) at Mount Wilson is one of California's highest rainfall amounts from a tropical cyclone, although at least one system has a higher point maximum.[6] The rains caused a flood 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m)[7] deep in the Coachella Valley with heavy rain immediately preceding the tropical storm dropping 6.45 inches (164 mm) the day before the storm hit.[1] The Los Angeles River, which was usually low during September, became a raging torrent.[7]
With heavy rain immediately preceding the tropical storm, flooding killed 45 in Southern California.
Many low-lying areas were flooded. The
Rains washed away a 150-foot (46 m) section of the
The tropical storm was credited with at least one beneficial effect: it ended a vicious heat wave that had lasted for over a week and killed at least 90 people.[11]
People were caught unprepared by the storm,
See also
- List of California hurricanes
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in California
- Hurricane Linda (2015)- One of wettest Los Angeles rain was "2.39" inches, and remnants, but only behind 1939 was "3.96" inches.
- Hurricane Hilary – most recent tropical storm to impact California, only 2.48" inches in Los Angeles around August.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "A History of Significant Local Weather Events" (PDF). National Weather Service Forecast Office San Diego, California. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ Chris Landsea. "The San Diego Hurricane of October 2, 1858" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. pp. 1698–97. Archived(PDF) from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ^ Oberholtz, Chris (August 21, 2023). "When was the last time a hurricane or tropical storm hit California?". Fox Weather. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Willis E. Hurd (September 1939). "North Pacific Ocean, September 1939" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. pp. 357–8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- Chris Landsea. "Subject: G8) Why do hurricanes hit the East coast of the U.S., but never the West coast?". FAQ. National Hurricane Center. Archivedfrom the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ^ Roth, David M. (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f "Heavy Death Toll Feared in S. California Hurricane; L.A., Neighboring Cities Flooded by Torrential Rains". Oakland Tribune. 1939-09-25. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ Duginski, Paul (August 22, 2019). "Could a hurricane lash Los Angeles? 80 years ago, this deadly storm came close". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- Chris Landsea (2007-04-15). "The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 185 to 2006 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts)" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. p. 7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ Grobaty, Tim (25 September 2019). "The Lash of St. Francis whipped the shores of Long Beach 80 years ago". Long Beach Post News.
- ^ "Tropical Storm Kills 56 on California Coast". Brownsville Herald. 1939-09-25. Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2008-03-10.