1971 Pacific hurricane season

none EPac 1971 1971 Pacific hurricane season summary map.png May 21, 1971 November 29, 1971 Denise 951 120 Olivia 948 100 1 22 18 12 6 31 total 40 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 1971 Atlantic hurricane season 1971 Pacific typhoon season 1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season The 1971 Pacific hurricane season was the first Pacific hurricane season with reliable records. It began on May 15, 1971 in the eastern Pacific (east of 140°W), and on June 1, 1971 in the Central Pacific (from 140°W to the International Date Line); both ended on November 30, 1971. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in these regions of the Pacific. It was the first year that continuous Weather satellite coverage existed over the entire Central Pacific. As such, this season is often viewed as the start year for modern reliable tropical cyclone data in the Pacific Ocean.Tropical Cyclone Climatology https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/ NOAA Climate Prediction Center College Park, Maryland August 15, 2023 It was an above average Pacific hurricane season with 22 tropical cyclones forming, of which 18 became named storms. During the season, 12 storms became hurricanes, of which 6 became major hurricanes by reaching Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the time, this was a single-season record number of storms. This season also had a record 6 systems make landfall: Agatha, Bridget, Katrina, Lily, Olivia and Priscilla. __TOC__ Systems Hurricane Agatha EPac AgathaMay231971NOAA1.png Agatha 1971 track.png May 21 May 25 85 ≤ 972 On May 21, an area of low pressure developed in the very warm waters south of Tehuantepec, Mexico. Later that day, satellite images showed increasing circulation and Tropical Storm Agatha developed shortly after. Agatha continued moving to the west-northwest parallel to the Mexican coastline and strengthened into a hurricane on May 22. A U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance aircraft flew into Agatha and found an eye and strong bands. The next day, a reconnaissance plane found winds of 85 to 90 mph km/h on. On May 24, a ship reported winds of 100 mph km/h on. Agatha made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale within 45 mi km on of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The village of Playa Azul was hard hit by the storm. Up to half of the village's homes were destroyed, and much of the banana, mango, and coconut crops were destroyed. Hurricane Bridget EPac BridgetJune161971NOAA1.png Bridget 1971 track.png June 14 June 20 85 998 The origins of Bridget were from a tropical wave that exited the coast of Africa on June 3. Around four days later the system entered the Caribbean Sea, passing over the San Andres islands on June 12.Neil L. Frank 100 4 268 Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1971 Monthly Weather Review April 1972 2011-07-19 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/100/mwr-100-04-0268.pdf 1972MWRv..100..268F 10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0268:ATSO>2.3.CO;2 free The area of convection, or thunderstorms, spread across Central America. A surface circulation developed offshore El Salvador,William J. Denney Monthly Weather Review April 1972 100 4 276–282 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season of 1971 2011-07-19 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/100/mwr-100-04-0276.pdf 1972MWRv..100..276D 10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0276:EPHSO>2.3.CO;2 and the system formed into a tropical depression on June 14. Warm waters allowed for steady intensification as it tracked through the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Early on June 15, a ship reported winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and 13 ft m on seas, which prompted the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center (EPHC) to upgrade the depression to Tropical Storm Bridget. The storm maintained a general northwest track toward the southwest Mexican coastline. It gradually intensified, and satellite images late on June 16 indicated that Bridget attained hurricane status about 55 mi (95 km) southwest of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca. It quickly intensified as it neared the coast, reaching winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) just southwest of the Acapulco coastline before weakening. Bridget paralleled the Mexican coastline just offshore before making landfall at 1200 UTC on June 17, about 100 mi (160 km) southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. The hurricane rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain, emerging into the Pacific Ocean as a tropical depression after being over land for only a few hours. Bridget turned westward as a weak tropical cyclone, eventually dissipating on June 20 to the south of the Baja California peninsula. While passing to the southwest of Acapulco, Bridget produced heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts reaching 104 mph (167 km/h). The winds damaged or destroyed many roofs across Acapulco, signs, and windows. Strong winds also downed trees and power lines, which left most of Acapulco without electricity.Staff Writer United Press International Reading Eagle 1971-06-17 Storm Causes Damage 2011-07-21 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3WVYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7PcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2549,3439290&dq=hurricane&hl=en Along the coast, the hurricane produced high tides and waves which flooded low-lying coastal areas with around 1.5 ft m on of water.Staff Writer Associated Press The Milwaukee Journal Mexican Storm Leaves 17 Lost 2011-07-21 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N0UaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cCkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6603,3723536&dq=acapulco+storm&hl=enJuly 2026 InternetArchiveBot The high tides damaged coastal properties and destroyed 21 boats, including the flagship of the Admiral of the Mexican Navy. Debris-clogged drains caused drainage facilities to exceed their capacities following the heavy rainfall. Overall, the storm killed 17 people in the region,Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1990-present August 1993 2009-03-25 http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20110718110440/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf July 18, 2011 and caused five additional injuries. Damage in the area around Acapulco was estimated at 500 million pesos ($40 million USD). This made it the worst hurricane to hit the city in at least 25 years. Hurricane Carlotta EPac Carlotta (1971).jpg Carlotta 1971 track.png July 2 July 8 75 ≤ 980 On July 1 an area of weather developed about 115 mi km on east of Clipperton Island. On July 2 the area of thunderstorms strengthened into Tropical Storm Carlotta. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flew into Carlotta on July 4 and found a system with a well-defined eye and good outflow, but winds only supported a tropical storm. Another reconnaissance plane found winds that were near hurricane strength on July 4. In post-season analysis, it was discovered that Carlotta was a hurricane for 24 hours on July 3 and 4. Later that day, Carlotta started weakening after moving into a less favorable environment. The storm continued to weaken until dissipating on July 8. Carlotta stayed over open waters during its entire life and no land was affected. Hurricane Denise EPac DeniseJuly719712317UTCESSA9.png Denise 1971 track.png July 2 July 14 120 ≤ 951 On July 2 an area of weather got better organized about 865 mi km on east of then Tropical Storm Carlotta. On July 4 satellite imagery indicated that the system had strengthened into Tropical Storm Denise and later into Hurricane Denise on July 6. The system continued to move west and on July 7, U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance plane found a more organized system with sustained winds estimated to be 90 mph km/h on with a minimum central pressure of 963 mbar (hPa; 28.4 inHg). By July 8, the system had sustained one-minute winds of 125 mph km/h on and a minimum central pressure of 951 mbar hPa inHg on. Denise reached a peak intensity of 140 mph km/h on, a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale early on July 9, but then started to weaken. Denise had started a northwest movement towards Hawaii. A reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of approximately 115 mph (185 mph) on July 9. Soon after, the eyewall started to dissipate, most likely because of cooler inflow. Over the next 48 hours, the system continued to weaken into a tropical storm. On July 13 the system was approaching the Hawaiian Islands, but a reconnaissance flight only found winds that were barely tropical storm strength. What was left of the storm quickly weakened and Denise became a remnant low. The remnants of Denise moved south of the Hawaiian Islands, but still brought beneficial rains that caused some minor flooding.http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1971.php The 1971 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season CPHC 1971 2007-08-22 Tropical Storm Eleanor EPac Eleanor 1971 track.png EleanorJuly919712319UTCESSA9.png July 7 July 11 50 ≤ 1007 Eleanor was a short-lived, weak tropical storm that stayed well out to sea. On July 7, a tropical depression formed east-southeast of the weakening Carlotta and west of the strengthening Denise. By July 8, satellite imagery showed that the depression had strengthened into a tropical storm. Eleanor strengthened over the next 24 hours to a top strength of 60 mph km/h on. On July 10, a U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance plane found a weakening system and the next day the storm was a dissipating depression moving toward the west-southwest. Hurricane Francene EPac Francene (1971).png Francene 1971 track.png July 18 July 23 100 ≤ 991 An area of enhanced shower activity and low pressure circulation developed a couple hundred miles off the coast of Mexico. On July 18 a tropical depression had formed and on July 19 the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Francene. Francene underwent rapid deepening into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. However, because of Francene's increasing size, the storm starting pulling in cool surface air which caused weakening. By July 20, Francene had weakened into a tropical storm. Francene continued to weaken over the next 24 hours and was barely a tropical storm by the morning of July 22. That afternoon, Francene began to strengthen once again but it was short-lived. By July 23, the surface circulation had disappeared and Francene was no longer a tropical cyclone. Francene stayed over open water and did not affect land. Tropical Storm Georgette EPac GeorgetteJuly2419712242UTCESSA9.gif Georgette 1971 track.png July 20 July 27 50 990 A tropical depression formed to the east of Hurricane Francene on July 20. A reconnaissance flight found a poorly organized tropical storm with winds of 50 mph km/h on on July 23. Georgette reached a peak intensity of 60 mph km/h 0 on the next day. Ships to the north of Georgette reported weak tropical storm force winds. By July 26 the storm began to weaken rapidly before dissipating the next day. Hurricane Hilary EPac HilaryAugust119712250UTCESSA9.gif Hilary 1971 track.png July 26 August 7 85 ≤ 964 Tropical Storm Hilary developed about 115 mi km on west of Clipperton Island on July 26. Hilary strengthened quickly into a hurricane by July 28 and a recon plane found surface winds of 90 mph km/h on and noted a well-defined eye. The hurricane would peak as a category 2 with sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on on July 30.http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1971/HILARY/track.dat Hurricane Hilary track data Unisys 2008-07-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20080724111829/http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1971/HILARY/track.dat 24 July 2008 live Hilary weakened slightly as its motion became erratic across the tropical Pacific Ocean. By August 1 the hurricane turned to the northwest towards cooler waters. Hilary weakened into a tropical storm on August 3 after being at hurricane strength for a week. Steady weakening continued over the next four days before dissipating in the Central Pacific. Hurricane Ilsa February 2026 EPac Ilsa 1971 track.png IlsaAugust119712054UTCESSA9.gif July 31 August 8 100 ≤ 978 Hurricane Ilsa formed on July 31 to the south of the Mexican coast. It gradually strengthened into a tropical storm and a hurricane. Ilsa peaked as a Category 3 hurricane before heading further out to sea and weakening. Hurricane Ilsa dissipated on August 8. Tropical Storm Jewel February 2026 EPac JewellAug1019712202UTCESSA9.gif Jewel 1971 track.png August 6 August 11 60 993 Tropical Storm Jewel formed near Mexico on August 6. Heading out to sea, it strengthened into a 70 mph km/h on tropical storm. It dissipated on August 11. Tropical Storm Katrina February 2026 EPac KatrinaAug1019712202UTCESSA9.gif Katrina 1971 track.png August 8 August 13 55 1008 Katrina was a very small storm. Katrina brushed Baja California Sur and made landfall in the Mexican state of Sonora as a tropical storm. It dissipated on August 13. Rain from Katrina's remnants ruined crops, destroyed railroad trestles, and washed away three bridges. Hurricane Lily EPac LilyAug3119712125UTCESSA9.gif Lily 1971 track.png August 28 September 1 75 978 Hurricane Lily (1971) The remnants of Tropical Storm Chloe in the Atlantic formed into Tropical Depression Twelve on August 28. Twelve continued northeast and intensified into a tropical storm and was thus assigned the name Lily. Lily turned northwest. Rapid intensification occurred and Lily developed an eye. Lily peaked with one-minute sustained winds of 85 mph and a pressure of 978mb. Lily made landfall soon after. Once over land, Lily fell below tropical storm intensity. Then the hurricane turned northwest and dissipated soon after. Hurricane Monica February 2026 EPac Monica 1971 track.png August 29 September 5 Monica1971sep20008z.gif 100 ≤ 1005 Monica was a Category 3 hurricane which did not affect land. Hurricane Nanette February 2026 EPac Nanette 1971 track.png NanetteSep619712131UTCESSA9.gif September 3 September 9 85 ≤ 984 Hurricane Nanette threatened southern Baja California but turned west before making landfall. Hurricane Olivia EPac OliviaSep2519712053UTCESSA9.gif Irene-Olivia 1971 path.png September 20 (Entered basin) October 1 110 948 Hurricane Irene–Olivia Olivia was a continuation of Atlantic Hurricane Irene. Olivia eventually strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane before recurving and making landfall in Baja California as a depression. The remnants of Olivia continued north into California, where they brought rain. Hurricane Priscilla EPac PriscillaOct919712108UTC.gif Priscilla 1971 track.png October 6 October 13 110 951 Priscilla made landfall south of Mazatlán as a tropical storm. It had weakened significantly before landfall, having once been a strong Category 3 hurricane. Priscilla destroyed roughly 36,000 acres of corn, tomatoes, peppers, bananas, and cotton, resulting in $3.12 million in losses. Heavy rains inundated 30 towns in Nayarit, damaging roads and two major thoroughfares; road damage totaled $544,000.Storm Damages Mexican Crops https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2887430/ July 26, 2015 The Corpus Christi Times Associated Press 62 75 October 15, 1971 Corpus Christi, Texas 1D Newspapers.com Tropical Storm Ramona February 2026 EPac RamonaOct2919712129UTCESSA9.gif Ramona 1971 track.png October 28 October 31 50 1009 Ramona formed on October 28, it quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. It later weakened back to a tropical depression. Before dissipation, it made a sharp turn to the north-northeast. It had dissipated on October 31. Tropical Storm Sharon February 2026 EPac SharonNov2619712154UTC.gif Sharon 1971 track.png November 25 November 29 35 ≤ 1009 Tropical Storm Sharon was a late season tropical storm that formed a few hundred miles from Mexico on November 25. It slowly strengthened into a minimal tropical storm before unfavorable conditions caused it to dissipate on November 29. Storm names The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Pacific Ocean east of 140°W in 1971.https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1971.pdf 95, 97 NOAA Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Washington, D.C. National Hurricane Operations Plan May 1971 February 27, 2024 This was the same set of names used for the 1967 season.https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1967.pdf 62 Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services Washington, D.C. 1967 National Hurricane Plan May 1967 February 27, 2024 A storm was named Sharon for the first time this year.February 27, 2024 Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Name History Atlantic Tropical Weather Center http://www.atwc.org/pachist.txt https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105925/http://www.atwc.org/pachist.txt September 29, 2007 No names were retired after this season,https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names National Hurricane Center Miami, Florida February 27, 2024 thus the same list was used again for the 1975 season.https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1975.pdf 95 NOAA Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Washington, D.C. National Hurricane Operations Plan May 1975 February 27, 2024 Agatha Bridget Carlotta Denise* Eleanor Francene Georgette Hilary* Ilsa Jewel Katrina Lily Monica Nanette Olivia Priscilla Ramona Sharon Terry Veronica Winifred Had a named storm formed in the North Pacific between 140°W and the International Date Line in 1971 it would have been assigned a name from the west Pacific's typhoon name list by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center on Guam. Named storms in the table above that crossed into the area during the season are noted (*).Pao-Shin Chu Peng Wu University of Hawaii-Manoa 2008 February 27, 2024 Climatic Atlas of Tropical Cyclone Tracks over the Central North Pacific http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/op/czm/initiative/hazard/climatic_atlas_of_tropical_cyclone.pdf October 23, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141023054832/http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/op/czm/initiative/hazard/climatic_atlas_of_tropical_cyclone.pdf live Season effects This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1971 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1971 USD. center1971 Pacific hurricane cat2 Agatha May 21 – 25 100 (155) 972 Mexico Unknown 0 cat2 Bridget June 14 – 20 100 (155) 998 Mexico 56 17 cat1 Carlotta July 2 – 8 85 (140) 980 None None 0 cat4 Denise July 2 – 14 140 (220) 951 Hawaii None 0 storm Eleanor July 7 – 11 60 (95) 1007 None None 0 cat3 Francene July 18 – 23 115 (185) 991 None None 0 cat1 Georgette July 20 – 27 60 (95) 990 None None 0 cat2 Hilary July 26 – August 7 100 (155) 964 None None 0 cat3 Ilsa July 31 – August 8 115 (185) 978 None None 0 storm Jewel August 6 – 11 70 (110) 993 None None 0 storm Katrina August 8 – 13 65 (100) 1008 Mexico Unknown 0 cat1 Lily August 28 – September 1 85 (140) 978 Mexico Unknown 12-14 cat3 Monica August 29 – September 5 115 (185) 1005 None None 0 cat2 Nanette September 3 – 9 100 (155) 984 Mexico None 0 cat3 Olivia September 20 – October 1 115 (185) 948 Nicaragua, Mexico Unknown 3 cat3 Priscilla October 6 – 13 125 (205) 951 Mexico 3.664 0 storm Ramona October 28 – 31 60 (95) 1009 None None 0 storm Sharon November 25 – 29 40 (65) 1009 None None 0 22There were four other tropical cyclones which never reached tropical storm strength, but due to the unavailability of their data they are not added onto this table. "nb" May 21 – November 29 140 (220) 948 Mexico, Nicaragua Unknown 52 See also Tropical cyclones List of Pacific hurricanes Pacific hurricane season 1971 Atlantic hurricane season 1971 Pacific typhoon season 1971 North Indian Ocean cyclone season Australian cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72 South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1970–71, 1971–72 Notes "nb" References NOAA Monthly Weather Review accessed November 7, 2005 Unisys Storm Tracks accessed November 7, 2005 CPHC archive accessed November 17, 2005 External links Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season of 1971 CPHC Season Summary ATCR Eastern Pacific summary (PDF) Unisys Storm Tracks 1970 Pacific hurricane 1971 Category:Pacific hurricane seasons Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines