1962 Pacific hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1962 Pacific hurricane season was a moderately active Pacific hurricane season that included two hurricane
landfalls. The first, 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.
, Guerrero
. It moved northwestward along the coast, producing high seas and strong winds in southwestern Mexico. 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.
. It maintained a west-northwestward track throughout its duration, remaining a minimal tropical storm. On July 10, the storm dissipated.
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.
. After moving northwestward for two days, the storm turned to the north, striking Baja California on September 6 before dissipating.
The remnant moisture caused severe flash floods in the vicinity of Tucson, with 5 to 7 in (127 to 177.8 mm) of precipitation falling over the headwaters of the Santa Rosa, Jackrabbit, and Brawley Washes
during a 14–15 hour period. Over 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rainfall also fell near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
. The ensuing flood of the Santa Cruz River and its tributaries produced a path of destruction about 100 miles (160.9 km) long and up to 8 miles (12.9 km) wide. Santa Rosa Wash conveyed 53100 cuft/s at its peak; Los Robles Wash carried up to 32600 cuft/s, while the Santa Cruz River proper peaked at 9200 cuft/s. The washes and rivers reached depths of up to 20 feet (6.1 m), and overflowed its banks in places by 1 to 6 ft (0.3048 to 1.8 m). Flooding from the storm inundated the towns of Marana
and Sells
, both in Pima County
. Helicopters rescued 27 families from Fort Huachuca
. There was one indirect death related to the flooding, due to an ambulance not being able to reach an elderly woman. The flooding also killed many cattle, and damage in Pima and Pinal
counties exceeded $11 million (1962 USD), much of it from crop damage. The flooding prompted a disaster declaration by former governor Paul Fannin
, which provided funds for the affected people.
nuclear tests, although no impact was reported. Lastly, satellite imagery indicated Tropical Storm "A" on October 27 to the northeast of Palmyra Island.
before dissipating on October 5.
Surface observations and satellite imagery indicated the formation of a tropical depression about 275 mi (442.6 km) north of Palymra Island on July 29. It moved west-northwestward without developing further, and eventually dissipated on August 2 over the central Pacific.
On August 31, the Joint Hurricane Warning Center named a tropical depression in the Central Pacific basin as Tropical Depression 63, following the West Pacific's numbering. The advisories were discontinued 275 nautical miles (509.3 km) from the South Point of Big Island
, where it was no longer considered a threat to shipping lanes or any land masses.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
landfalls. The first, 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.
Hurricane Valerie
The first tropical cyclone of the season – Hurricane Valerie – was first observed on June 24, about 245 mi (400 km) west of AcapulcoAcapulco
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...
, 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....
. It moved northwestward along the coast, producing high seas and strong winds in southwestern Mexico. Valerie was estimated to have attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It turned to the northeast and struck near 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...
on June 25, dissipating early the next day.
Tropical Storm Willa
On July 8, Tropical Storm Willa developed south of the Baja California peninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. It maintained a west-northwestward track throughout its duration, remaining a minimal tropical storm. On July 10, the storm dissipated.
Tropical Storm Ava
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.Unnamed August tropical storm
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.Hurricane "C"
On August 24, satellite imagery indicated a hurricane with a defined eyeEye (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 located over the central Pacific Ocean. It slowly weakened as it moved over lukewarm waters, and deteriorated more rapidly after wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
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.
Tropical Storm Bernice
A tropical storm named Bernice developed on September 2 west of JaliscoJalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
. After moving northwestward for two days, the storm turned to the north, striking Baja California on September 6 before dissipating.
Tropical Storm Claudia
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.The remnant moisture caused severe flash floods in the vicinity of Tucson, with 5 to 7 in (127 to 177.8 mm) of precipitation falling over the headwaters of the Santa Rosa, Jackrabbit, and Brawley Washes
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
during a 14–15 hour period. Over 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rainfall also fell near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a museum and zoo founded in 1952 and located in Tucson, Arizona. It contains a museum and two miles of walking paths on of this property, and is one of the most visited attractions in Tucson...
. The ensuing flood of the Santa Cruz River and its tributaries produced a path of destruction about 100 miles (160.9 km) long and up to 8 miles (12.9 km) wide. Santa Rosa Wash conveyed 53100 cuft/s at its peak; Los Robles Wash carried up to 32600 cuft/s, while the Santa Cruz River proper peaked at 9200 cuft/s. The washes and rivers reached depths of up to 20 feet (6.1 m), and overflowed its banks in places by 1 to 6 ft (0.3048 to 1.8 m). Flooding from the storm inundated the towns of Marana
Marana, Arizona
Marana is a town in Pima County, Arizona, located northwest of Tucson, with a small portion in Pinal County. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 34,961...
and Sells
Sells, Arizona
Sells is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,799 at the 2000 census. It is the capital of the Tohono O'odham Nation and the home of several of their tribal businesses, such as Tohono O'Odham Ki:Ki Association...
, both in Pima County
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Helicopters rescued 27 families from Fort Huachuca
Fort Huachuca
Fort Huachuca is a United States Army installation under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about north of the border with Mexico. Beginning in 1913, for 20 years the fort was the base for the "Buffalo...
. There was one indirect death related to the flooding, due to an ambulance not being able to reach an elderly woman. The flooding also killed many cattle, and damage in Pima and Pinal
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
counties exceeded $11 million (1962 USD), much of it from crop damage. The flooding prompted a disaster declaration by former governor Paul Fannin
Paul Fannin
Paul Jones Fannin was the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona from 1959 to 1965 and subsequently a U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a Republican.- Biography :...
, which provided funds for the affected people.
Unnamed September tropical storm
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.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 Palmyra Island on September 28. It represented about 1% of storms in the basin to directly affect the island, after it produced westerly winds there. Tropical Storm "T" existed on September 29 without affecting land. Similarly, Tropical Storm "X" existed on October 2 over open Pacific waters. The next day, Tropical Storm "Z" passed near Johnston Island during the Operation Dominic I and IIOperation Dominic I and II
Operation Dominic was a series of 105 nuclear test explosions conducted in 1962 by the United States. Those conducted in the Pacific are sometimes called Dominic I. The blasts in Nevada are known as Dominic II. This test series was scheduled quickly, in order to respond in kind to the Soviet...
nuclear tests, although no impact was reported. Lastly, satellite imagery indicated Tropical Storm "A" on October 27 to the northeast of Palmyra Island.
Hurricane Doreen
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 SonoraSonora
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....
before dissipating on October 5.
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 (442.6 km) north of Palymra Island on July 29. It moved west-northwestward without developing further, and eventually dissipated on August 2 over the central Pacific.
On August 31, the Joint Hurricane Warning Center named a tropical depression in the Central Pacific basin as Tropical Depression 63, following the West Pacific's numbering. The advisories were discontinued 275 nautical miles (509.3 km) from the South Point of Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, where it was no longer considered a threat to shipping lanes or any land masses.
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of Pacific hurricane seasons
- 1962 Atlantic hurricane season1962 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1962 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active since 1939, with only five named storms. Although the season officially began on June 15, the first storm did not form until August 26. Hurricane Alma brushed the outer banks before becoming extratropical southeast of New England,...
- 1962 Pacific typhoon season1962 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between...