Hurricane Liza (1976)
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |
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| Hurricane Liza at peak intensity on September 30. | |
| Formed | September 25, 1976 |
| Dissipated | October 2, 1976 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 948 mbar (hPa); 27.99 inHg |
| Fatalities | At least 650 |
| Damage | $100 million (1976 USD) |
| Areas affected | Northern Mexico |
| Part of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Liza was one of the deadliest East Pacific tropical cyclones on record. The seventeenth tropical cyclone, thirteenth named storm, and the eight hurricane of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season, Liza developed from an area of disturbed weather to the southwest of Mexico on September 25. Developing as a tropical depression, it gradually intensified into Tropical Storm Liza later on the following day. Liza continued north-northeastward and steadily strengthened. By September 28, Liza was upgraded to a hurricane. Thereafter, Liza began to steadily deepen, and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane from late on September 28 to early on September 30. Thereafter, Liza weakened in the Gulf of California, and was a Category 3 hurricane when the storm made landfall near Guaymas, Sonora on October 1. Liza rapidly deteriorated while moving inland, and dissipated on the following day.
Liza brought heavy rainfall, which caused significant flash flooding. A dike burst and hundreds of people were swept away by flood water. In addition, high winds produced by the storm tore off roofs. Overall, at least 650 fatalities and $100 million (1976 USD) in damage are attributed to the hurricane.
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[edit] Meteorological history
An area of intense thunderstorms developed well southwest of Mexico on September 25. By later that day, satellite imagery indicated that the system had developed a cyclonic circulation. It is estimated that a tropical depression developed at 1800 UTC on September 25 while centered about 485 miles (781 km) northeast-by-east of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. The depression gradually intensified as it tracked west-northwestward, and became Tropical Storm Liza at 1800 UTC on the following day. Thereafter, Liza turned to the north-northeast and began to strengthen while moving through sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 85 °F (29 °C).[1] Early on September 28, Liza intensified into a hurricane,[2] while developed an eye 17 miles (27 km) in diameter. However, operationally, Liza was not upgraded to a hurricane until 18 hours later.[1]
Liza continued to track over warm SST's, and by late on September 29, an Air Force reconnaissance flight into the storm indicated sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h).[1] However, sustained winds were actually at 140 mph (220 km/h), which is low-end Category 4 intensity.[2] Though Liza encountered SST's of 88 °F (31 °C), it did not strengthen further. Late on September 30, Liza passed about 65 miles (105 km) east of Cabo San Lucas. Early on October 1, Liza entered the Gulf of California passed 52 miles (84 km) east of La Paz, Baja California Sur. By 1300 UTC on October 1, Liza made landfall about 52 miles (84 km) north of Los Mochis, Sinaloa with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm rapidly weakened inland, and dissipated on the following day.[1]
[edit] Impact
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Mexico" | 1959 | 1,800+ |
| 2 | Paul | 1982 | 1,424 |
| 3 | Liza | 1976 | 650–1,000 |
| 4 | Tara | 1961 | 436–500 |
| 5 | Aletta | 1982 | 308 |
| 6 | Pauline | 1997 | 230–400 |
| 7 | Agatha | 2010 | 190 |
| 8 | Tico | 1983 | 135 |
| 9 | Ismael | 1995 | 116 |
| 10 | "Mazatlán" | 1943 | 100 |
| Lidia | 1981 | 100 | |
| Main article: List of Pacific hurricanes | |||
Liza brought heavy rains. Near La Paz, Baja California Sur, rains caused flash flooding. The El Cajoncito Creek on the outskirts of the city grew into a raging torrent. During night October 1, waters burst a dike. A five-foot wall of water raged through a poor section of the city, washing away and burying in mud over 600 people. Around 350 other people were reported missing. The dam had been described as "poorly built and a permanent menace".[1] In all, at least 650 people lost their lives, though some reports claim that upwards of 7,000 perished in the storm.[3]
The flood left a deep layer of mud. The large number of dead resulted in some of them being burned to prevent disease.[2] The Mexican government eventually launched an investigation into the dam failure.[3]
In the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, Liza winds peeled of roofs while its storm surge washed ashore. Numerous crops were destroyed. The total cost of damage in Baja California Sur was around 5 million dollars, and unknown elsewhere.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (June 2009) |
- ^ a b c d Emil B. Gunther (April 1977). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1976". Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center. http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0493%281977%29105%3C0508%3AEPTCO%3E2.0.CO%3B2. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ a b David M. Roth (2011). "CLIQR database". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/ebtrk_nhc_final.txt. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ http://sites.google.com/site/historiabcs/huracan-liza
- ^ Clifford, Mary E. News Dictionary 1976. Facts On File. 1977. ISBN 0-87196-103-2
- ^ Mexicans Burying Hurricane Dead New York Times. October 3, 1976.
- ^ Mexico to Study Dike's Rupture New York Times. October 7, 1976
