1962 Pacific hurricane season
1962 Pacific hurricane season | |
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![]() Season summary map | |
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | June 24, 1962 |
Last system dissipated | October 5, 1962 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Doreen |
• Maximum winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total depressions | 18 |
Total storms | 16 |
Hurricanes | 2 |
Total fatalities | Unknown |
Total damage | $11 million (1962 USD) |
Related articles | |
The 1962 Pacific hurricane season was a moderately active Pacific hurricane season that included two hurricane landfalls. The 1962 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1962 in the eastern Pacific and June 1, 1962 in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility and lasted until November 30, 1962 in both regions. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.[1]
The first of two hurricane landfalls, Hurricane Valerie, struck northwestern Mexico in June. The other, Hurricane Doreen, hit further to the north of Valerie in October. The most impacting storm of the season was Tropical Storm Claudia, after its remnants dropped heavy rainfall in portions of Arizona. The rainfall left damaging flooding across rivers and towns. No people were killed, but damage totaled to $11 million (1962
Seasonal summary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/83tnyrff4r1vmjvmrq5ab61z1rogyam.png)
With 16 named storms, the season was above the 1949-2006 average of 13 named storms and was the most active season ever recorded at that time; however, this record was broken in the
Systems
Hurricane Valerie
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | June 24 – June 25 |
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Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min); 1003 mbar (hPa) |
The first tropical cyclone of the season – Hurricane Valerie – was first observed on June 24, about 245 mi (400 km) west of Acapulco, Guerrero.[3] It moved northwestward along the coast, producing high seas and strong winds in southwestern Mexico.[7] Valerie was estimated to have attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It turned to the northeast and struck near Mazatlán on June 25, dissipating early the next day.[3]
Tropical Storm Willa
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | July 8 – July 10 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1008 mbar (hPa) |
On July 8, Tropical Storm Willa developed south of the
Tropical Storm Ava
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 16 – August 20 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1002 mbar (hPa) |
In the middle of August, a tropical storm formed off the southwest coast of Mexico. Given the name Ava, it tracked to the northwest before turning more to the north. It dissipated on August 20.[3]
Unnamed August tropical storm
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 20 – August 22 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1002 mbar (hPa) |
As the previous storm was dissipating, another tropical storm developed to its west. Lasting only two days, it dissipated on August 22 about halfway between Hawaii and the west coast of Mexico.[3]
Hurricane "C"
Duration | August 24 – September 2 |
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Peak intensity | Winds not specified; |
On August 24, satellite imagery indicated a hurricane with a defined eye was located over the central Pacific Ocean. It slowly weakened as it moved over lukewarm waters, and deteriorated more rapidly after wind shear increased. By August 28, the system consisted of a circulation with only weak associated convection. It weakened to a tropical depression on August 30, although it remained a tropical cyclone until September 2. At that time it was last observed about 200 mi (320 km) south of Hilo, Hawaii.[4][3]
Tropical Storm Bernice
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 2 – September 6 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 986 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical storm named Bernice developed on September 2 west of Jalisco. After moving northwestward for two days, the storm turned to the north, striking Baja California on September 6 before dissipating.[3] The remnants of the storm later brought moderate rain to Arizona.[8]
Tropical Storm Claudia
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 20 – September 24 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 990 mbar (hPa) |
Later in the month, another storm similar to Bernice existed. Tropical Storm Claudia formed on September 20 to the southwest of Acapulco. It maintained a general northwest movement for its duration. On September 23, Claudia crossed over the western portion of the Baja California peninsula, moved over water, and again struck the peninsula before dissipating.[3]
The remnant moisture caused severe flash floods in the vicinity of Tucson, with 5 to 7 inches (130 to 180 mm) of precipitation falling over the headwaters of the
Unnamed September tropical storm
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 25 – September 30 |
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Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1001 mbar (hPa) |
On September 26, a tropical storm developed off the southwest coast of Mexico. The storm moved to the west-northwest for several days, dissipating on September 30.[3]
September and October Central Pacific tropical cyclones
In September and October, satellite imagery indicated that there were five tropical storms in the central Pacific Ocean. The first, designated Tropical Storm "R", passed about 200 mi (320 km) north of
Hurricane Doreen
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 1 – October 5 |
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Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min); 980 mbar (hPa) |
The last storm of the season was Hurricane Doreen, which formed on October 1 off the southwest Mexican coast. It moved northwestward before curving to the north, although later it turned again to the northwest. Doreen was estimated to have attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). On October 4, Doreen made its closest approach to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula as it began a motion to the northeast. Later that day, the hurricane moved over southern
Tropical depressions
There were two non-developing tropical depressions during the season.
Surface observations and satellite imagery indicated the formation of a tropical depression about 275 mi (443 km) north of
On August 31, the
Storm names
The following names were used for tropical storms that formed in the North Pacific Ocean east of 140°W during 1962. The names came from a series of four rotating lists. Names were used one after the other without regard to year, and when the bottom of one list was reached, the next named storm received the name at the top of the next list.[14]
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Had any tropical storms formed in the North Pacific between 140°W and the International Date Line in 1962, their names would have been drawn from the Western Pacific typhoon naming list.[14]
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- Pacific hurricane season
- 1962 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1962 Pacific typhoon season
- Australian region cyclone seasons: 1962–63
- South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1962–63
- South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1961–62 1962–63
References
- ^ Neal, Dorst. "When is hurricane season?". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c Blake, Eric S; Gibney, Ethan J; Brown, Daniel P; Mainelli, Michelle; Franklin, James L; Kimberlain, Todd B; Hammer, Gregory R (2009). Tropical Cyclones of the Eastern North Pacific Basin, 1949-2006 (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 26, 2024). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2023". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e Central Pacific Hurricane Center (2007-05-04). "The 1962 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ "Variability of rainfall from tropical cyclones in Northwestern Mexico" (PDF). Atmosfera. 2008. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
- . Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ Staff writer (1962-06-27). "First Hurricane". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press International. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ a b "The Effects of Tropical Cyclones on the Southwestern United States" (PDF). NOAA Technical Memorandum. National Weather Service Western Region. 1980. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ USACE. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ a b National Weather Service, Phoenix Regional Office. "Top Arizona Hurricane/Tropical Storm Events". Retrieved 2006-03-19.
- ^ Staff writer (1962-09-25). "Flood Threatens Arizona Indians". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press International. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ Staff Writer (1962-09-28). "Crop Flood Damage High in Arizona". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ Staff writer (1962-09-28). "Emergency Disaster Declared in Arizona". Schenectady Gazette. United Press International. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ a b Padgett, Gary (July 11, 2008). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: November 2007 First Installment". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved February 10, 2010.