Hurricane Bridget

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Map key
  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
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of the hurricane 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. [1] The area of convection, or thunderstorms, spread across Central America. A surface circulation developed offshore El Salvador, [2] and the system formed into a tropical depression on June 14. [3] For much of the summer of 1971, a large pool of anomalously warm water temperatures extended from Central America to the Gulf of California off the Mexican coast, reaching 89.6 °F (32 °C). This allowed for steady intensification as it tracked through the Gulf of Tehuantepec. [2]

Early on June 15, a ship reported winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and 13 ft (4.0 m) 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. [2] It quickly intensified as it neared the coast, reaching winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) just southwest of Acapulco coastline before weakening. [3] 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. [2] Bridget turned westward as a weak tropical cyclone, eventually dissipating on June 20 to the south of the Baja California peninsula. [3]

Preparations and impact

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. [2] Strong winds also downed trees and power lines, which left most of Acapulco without electricity. [4] Along the coast, the hurricane produced high tides and waves which flooded low-lying coastal areas with around 1.5 ft (0.46 m) of water. [2] [5] The high tides damaged coastal properties and destroyed 21 boats, including the flagship of the Admiral of the Mexican Navy. [2] Debris-clogged drains caused drainage facilities to exceed their capacities following the heavy rainfall. [2] Overall, the storm killed 17 people in the region, [6] and caused five additional injuries. [4]

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. Where Bridget made its final landfall, no damage reports were available due to the sparse population of the area. [2]

See also

Other hurricanes which severely affected Acapulco:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Boris (1996)</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 1996

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Madeline (1976)</span> Category 4 Pacific hurricane in 1976

Hurricane Madeline was the second landfalling major hurricane along the Pacific coast of Mexico in a week. Madeline formed on September 29, not far from Central America. The next day, the circulation dissipated, and as a result weakened to a remnant low. Four days later, on October 3, the low regenerated into a tropical depression. The system remained weak for three days as it drifted west-northwest. When it began to recurve towards Mexico on October 6, the cyclone rapidly intensified and eventually made landfall at peak intensity as a Category 4. Shortly after landfall, the cyclone rapidly dissipated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Eugene (1987)</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 1987

Hurricane Eugene was the only tropical cyclone to make landfall in Mexico during the 1987 Pacific hurricane season. The eighth tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and first hurricane of the season, Eugene developed on July 22 from a tropical disturbance centered well offshore of Mexico. Later that day, the system intensified into a tropical storm while moving northwestward. Eugene reached hurricane status on July 24; it briefly peaked as a Category 2 hurricane the next day. Hurricane Eugene weakened back to a Category 1 hurricane; subsequently, the hurricane made landfall near Manzanillo. Shortly after landfall, Eugene rapidly weakened inland, and was only a tropical storm when it re-emerged into open water, where it quickly dissipated. Throughout southwestern Mexico, the storm produced high winds, especially in the southwestern portion of the country. The hurricane deluged the southwest Mexican coastline, resulting in the highest rainfall totals from a tropical cyclone in five Mexican states. Over 5,000 people were left homeless, including 60 in Manzanillo. The city's airport control tower was also damaged, requiring closure. Elsewhere, 200 to 300 houses were destroyed in Colima. In all, Eugene injured 18 people, and caused three fatalities and $142.12 million (1987 USD) in damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Dolores (1974)</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 1974

Hurricane Dolores was regarded as the worst hurricane to strike Acapulco since 1938. Developing on June 13, 1974, the system rapidly organized into a tropical storm the next day off the southern coast of Mexico. Over the following day, Dolores developed an eye-like feature and attained hurricane status. With peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), the storm made landfall near Acapulco. Once onshore, Dolores rapidly dissipated and was last noted on June 17.

References

  1. Neil L. Frank (April 1972). "Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1971" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review . 100 (4): 268. Bibcode:1972MWRv..100..268F. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0268:ATSO>2.3.CO;2 . Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 William J. Denney (April 1972). "Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season of 1971" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 100 (4): 276–282. Bibcode:1972MWRv..100..276D. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.395.3350 . doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1972)100<0276:EPHSO>2.3.CO;2 . Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  3. 1 2 3 National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 4, 2023). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2022". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. A guide on how to read the database is available here. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. 1 2 Staff Writer (1971-06-17). "Storm Causes Damage". Reading Eagle. United Press International. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  5. Staff Writer. "Mexican Storm Leaves 17 Lost". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  6. Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (August 1993). "Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1990-present" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-03-25.


Hurricane Bridget
BridgetJune161971NOAA1.png
This NOAA 1 weather satellite picture of Hurricane Bridget was taken on June 16, 1971