Hurricane Irene–Olivia

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Hurricane Irene–Olivia
landfall), Mexico, Southwest United States, Rockies
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1971 Atlantic and
Pacific hurricane seasons

Hurricane Irene–Olivia was the first actively tracked

Baja California Peninsula
on September 30; the next day it dissipated.

In the Atlantic, Irene produced moderate rainfall and winds along its path, although impact was greatest in Nicaragua where it moved ashore as a hurricane. A total of 96 homes were destroyed, and 1,200 people were left homeless. The rainfall resulted in widespread flooding, killing three people in

USD) in damage to the banana crop. Later, the remnants of Hurricane Olivia produced rainfall in the southwest United States. Flooding was reported near Yuma, Arizona, which closed a major highway, and the moisture produced snowfall in higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains
.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of the hurricane were from a

Hurricane Ginger and a long trough to its northwest.[1] On September 13, the depression passed just south of Barbados and subsequently entered the Caribbean Sea.[2] Interacting with the terrain of South America, the center became broad and ill-defined, although Curaçao reported winds of near tropical storm force as it crossed the island on September 16. It later moved near or over northern Venezuela and Colombia. As it approached the western Caribbean, the depression was able to organize more, with less influence from landmass or the trough to its north. At 0000 UTC on September 17, it is estimated the depression attained tropical storm status; that day, it was named Irene about 350 miles (560 km) east of San Andrés.[1] Initially, the storm was expected to track west-northwestward toward the northwest Caribbean, similar to the track taken by the destructive Hurricane Edith two weeks prior.[3]

Surface weather map of Irene on September 17

Tropical Storm Irene gradually intensified as it continued across the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Late on September 18, the storm attained hurricane status a short distance off the coast of Central America, with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds, its peak intensity in the Atlantic Ocean.

landfall in the Nicaraguan South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region;[4] it was the first tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity since 1911 to strike Nicaragua south of Bluefields.[1] Irene quickly weakened, deteriorating to tropical depression status within 18 hours of moving ashore.[4] The circulation remained organized over the low-lying terrain of southern Nicaragua, possibly due to it crossing Lake Nicaragua. After reaching the Pacific Ocean on September 20, the depression restrengthened to attain tropical storm status; upon doing so, it was re-designated by a new name, Olivia.[2][5] It was the first time an Atlantic hurricane was tracked as a tropical cyclone while crossing Central America into the Pacific Ocean;[6] subsequent research indicated there were earlier storms that accomplished the feat, although they were not known at the time.[4]

As an

Hurricane Hunters flight reported winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and an eye 23 miles (37 km) in diameter; based on the readings, Olivia was upgraded to hurricane status. For several days, Olivia moved west to west-northwestward off the coast of Mexico, although its exact intensity fluctuations were unknown, due to lack of significant observations. On September 25, the eye became very pronounced on satellite imagery, and based on a report from the Hurricane Hunters, it is estimated Olivia reached peak winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), about 245 miles (394 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. The Hurricane Hunters also reported a pressure of 948 mbar, which was the lowest reported pressure during the 1971 Pacific hurricane season.[5]

The intensity of Hurricane Olivia fluctuated for two days as it turned westward away from land, due to a blocking

Baja California Peninsula. Most of the thunderstorm activity dissipated by the time the depression moved ashore on September 30; the next day, Olivia dissipated near the border of Baja California and Baja California Sur.[5]

Impact and records

Hurricane Irene near its Central America landfall

As a tropical depression, the cyclone produced a wind gust of 43 mph (69 km/h) in Barbados. The system also dropped 3.35 inches (85 mm) of rainfall in Trinidad.

ABC islands.[7] Later as a tropical storm, Irene brushed San Andrés island in the western Caribbean with gale-force winds;[1] no major damage was reported there.[8]

Prior to the hurricane's landfall in Nicaragua, the country's army evacuated about 500 people from a settlement near

USD) in damage to the banana crop.[12]

Late in its duration, Hurricane Olivia brought increased moisture into the southwest United States. More than 2 inches (51 mm) of rainfall were reported across Arizona and New Mexico.[13] Light precipitation was also reported in western Texas and southeastern California.[14][15] The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings throughout the region.[16] Near Yuma, Arizona, thunderstorms caused three major power outages and produced flooding that resulted in the closure of a portion of U.S. Route 95.[17] In Navajo and Pinal counties, the rainfall damaged roads, bridges, sewers, and homes, which amounted to about $250,000 in repair work for the state of Arizona.[18] The storm's moisture also produced locally heavy snowfall in higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains.[16]

Irene–Olivia is unusual in that it survived passage from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. Only nine other named storms are known to have done so.[19] Irene was the first of four Atlantic-to-Pacific crossover tropical cyclones in the 1970s, three of four which took eastern Pacific names starting with the letter O.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 119771736
    . Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  2. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0268:ATSO>2.3.CO;2
    . Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  3. ^ Staff Writer (1971-09-17). "Hurricane Edith on Irene Route". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  4. ^ a b c d "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0276:EPHSO>2.3.CO;2
    . Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  6. ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (1971). "Annual Typhoon Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  7. ^ Staff Writer (1971-09-15). "Edith Threatens Gulf Coast". Mexico Ledger. Associated Press. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-09-20 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  8. ^ Diaz; et al. (April 1996). "Morphology and Marine Habitats of Two Southwestern Caribbean Atolls" (PDF). National Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  9. ^ Staff Writer (1971-09-20). "Storm Irene Loses Blow in Nicaragua". Playground Daily News. United Press International. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-09-20 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  10. ^ a b c Dirección General de Meteorología (2008-07-07). "Huracán Irene (1971)" (in Spanish). Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoiales. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  11. ^ a b Staff Writer (1971-09-21). "Irene Reforming in Pacific Ocean". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  12. ^ Staff Writer (1971-09-23). "Banana Crop is Hit by Hurricane Irene". The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-09-20 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1971)099<0980:CITWAW>2.3.CO;2
    . Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  14. ^ Staff Writer (1971-10-01). "Major Weather Change Seen Possible in State". Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 2021-09-20 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  15. ^ Jack Williams (2005-05-17). "Background: California's tropical storms". USAToday.com. Archived from the original on 2005-09-05. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  16. ^ a b Staff Writer (September 30, 1971). "Olivia brings rain, snow to western U.S." United Press International. The Bryan Times. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  17. ^ Loren Listiak. "Heavy Storm Sneaks Into Town". The Yuma Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  18. ^ Pinal County Public Works. "Summary of Historical Hazards Impacting Pinal County Communities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  19. ^ National Hurricane Center (2013-06-18). Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2) (TXT) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  20. ^ Stephen Caparotta; D. Walston; Steven Young; Gary Padgett. "Subject: E15) What tropical storms and hurricanes have moved from the Atlantic to the Northeast Pacific or vice versa?". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-06-08.

External links

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