Hurricane Patsy (1959)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Patsy was a tropical cyclone
of both the 1959 Pacific typhoon season
and the 1959 Pacific hurricane season. Moving erratically near the international dateline, the tropical cyclone never made landfall; it came close to Midway as a Category 3 hurricane, but caused no known impact, perhaps due to its small size. It is notable for being the earliest known Category 5 hurricane, and the hurricane was an uncommon west-to-east International dateline crosser.
resulted in Patsy's northeast motion, and a second trough dominated over the first, re-curving Patsy northwestward. Patsy gradually weakened as it moved northward. Two ships, President Hoover and Jesse Lykes, reported windspeeds of approximately 90 mph (155 km/h), equivalent to Category 1 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
on September 9. Advisories for Patsy were discontinued at 12:00 UTC the next day.
Patsy's erratic path near the dateline was unusual and no documented tropical cyclone had taken such a path over the previous ten years, although that of Typhoon June in 1958 was somewhat similar. The National Hurricane Center
's "best track" data set records Patsy exclusively east of the dateline from detection to dissipation.
s in the central Pacific basin, with winds of 150 knots (294 km/h), matched only by Hurricane John
of 1994. In addition, Patsy took an uncommon path that traveled west-to-east, crossing the dateline. Some doubt may exist regarding that windspeed due to one report of Category 5 winds also giving a sea level pressure
of only 960 mb/hPa— a value typical of a Category 3 hurricane; however, the second report did not give a pressure.
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...
of both the 1959 Pacific typhoon season
1959 Pacific typhoon season
The 1959 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1959, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
and the 1959 Pacific hurricane season. Moving erratically near the international dateline, the tropical cyclone never made landfall; it came close to Midway as a Category 3 hurricane, but caused no known impact, perhaps due to its small size. It is notable for being the earliest known Category 5 hurricane, and the hurricane was an uncommon west-to-east International dateline crosser.
Meteorological history
On September 6, reports from aircraft indicated the existence of a tropical storm near the international dateline. Although a Hurricane Hunter fix was requested, Patsy's developing stages were likely missed because of a lack of data in the Patsy's area of formation. A troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
resulted in Patsy's northeast motion, and a second trough dominated over the first, re-curving Patsy northwestward. Patsy gradually weakened as it moved northward. Two ships, President Hoover and Jesse Lykes, reported windspeeds of approximately 90 mph (155 km/h), equivalent to Category 1 status 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 9. Advisories for Patsy were discontinued at 12:00 UTC the next day.
Patsy's erratic path near the dateline was unusual and no documented tropical cyclone had taken such a path over the previous ten years, although that of Typhoon June in 1958 was somewhat similar. The National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
's "best track" data set records Patsy exclusively east of the dateline from detection to dissipation.
Records
Hurricane Patsy ties the record of the highest maximum sustained windMaximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s in the central Pacific basin, with winds of 150 knots (294 km/h), matched only by Hurricane John
Hurricane John (1994)
Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...
of 1994. In addition, Patsy took an uncommon path that traveled west-to-east, crossing the dateline. Some doubt may exist regarding that windspeed due to one report of Category 5 winds also giving a sea level pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of only 960 mb/hPa— a value typical of a Category 3 hurricane; however, the second report did not give a pressure.
See also
- Other storms of the same name