THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1976: Hurricane Kathleen

Episode Details

Tropical systems do not typically bring high winds or heavy rain to the southwestern United States. Most Pacific Tropical storms and Hurricanes are embedded in easterly winds, and move westward—away from large land masses—until they dissipate over cold waters. Rare is the tropical system to impact Los Angeles. A large area of thunderstorms, with a diameter of about 500 miles formed 270 miles southwest of Acapulco in early September, 1976. Moving rapidly west-northwest, the formed into tropical depression on September 7. While turning and moving toward the east, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Kathleen. On September 9, Tropical Storm Kathleen was barely a tropical storm. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen turned north-northeast into warmer waters and the tropical storm began to re-strengthen. Despite moving rapidly north, it strengthened into Hurricane Kathleen. Kathleen's forward motion accelerated to speeds of 35 mph on September 10, 1976. Unlike the few tropical systems that make it as far as California, Kathleen weakened only slowly as it moved northward over the state. It moved across Death Valley and on September 11, entered western Nevada. Its impacts were significant and, in some places, devastating. In a region not prone to heavy rain and especially not accompanied by strong winds the damage was severe. On September 10–11, gale-force winds caused considerable damage to the city of Yuma. For a time, the sustained winds exceeded 50 mph. California received record rainfall, with almost 15” falling in the mountains of Southern California. Officials evacuated 175 people from the flooded area of Ocotillo and the nearby communities that surround the Salton Sea; the sea rose 8 feet in 3 hours. A quarter mile of Interstate 8 and a 60-foot bridge were destroyed by the flood, which also washed away mobile homes, trucks, and cars. In Los Angles, two people died of injuries suffered from slippery roads. Palm Desert received more than a year's worth of rainfall in a matter of days. Flash flood warnings were also issued for parts of California, as well as nearby states Nevada and Arizona.

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1976: Hurricane Kathleen

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