Tropical Storm Kirsten (1966)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Kirsten
Type=Tropical Storm
Year=1966
Basin=EPac
Image location=Kirsten 1966 track.png

Formed=September 26, 1966
Dissipated=September 29, 1966
1-min winds=45
Pressure=
Da

Inflated=2
Fatalities=8
Areas=Mexico
Hurricane season=1966 Pacific hurricane seasonTropical Storm Kirsten was the sixteenth tropical depression and eleventh tropical storm of the 1966 Pacific hurricane season. [Joint Typhoon Warning Center [http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/atcr/1966atcr/pdf/annexa.pdf Annex A: Summary of Tropical Cyclones in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean (180 degrees to the North American Coast) for 1966.] Retrieved on 2008-10-10.] The tropical cyclone formed southwest of Mexico on September 25 and moved northeast, with two landfalls occurring near the city of La Paz on the Baja Peninsula and near Los Mochis, Mexico on September 28. Damage from Kirsten, adjusted for inflation, totaled $35.18 million (2008 USD).

Meteorological history

During the evening of September 25, a tropical wave off the coast of Mexico became more organized and strengthened to become Tropical Depression Sixteen. The depression slowly drifted to the north toward the Baja Peninsula. After drifting northward for 24 hours, the depression began to curve eastward. The curve was complete the next evening. After this curve, the depression sharply turned to the north and strengthened to reach a peak of 50 miles per hour and was named "Kirsten", the eleventh tropical storm of the season.

As the storm began to get stronger, it picked up speed and Kirsten crossed to Baja Peninsula during the afternoon of September 28 without weakening. The reason of the storm not weakening is unknown, although it is probably due to the fact that Kirsten was moving fast across the peninsula. After crossing the Baja, veered to the northwest, making landfall about halfway between Los Mochis and Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. After making landfall, Kirsten degenerated into a remnant low due to crossing the Sierra Madre mountains. After curving to the west, the remnant low dissipated while south of the Mexico-US border.

Impact and Naming

Kirsten caused $5.6 million (1966 USD) in Ciudad Obregon and the surrounding area. The damage, adjusted for inflation, is $35.18 million (2008 USD). Kirsten caused eight deaths in Ciudad Obregon with over 150 injured due to hurricane-force winds and torrential rains. The rains caused over 1000 homes to be destroyed. After the storm dissipated, the Mexican Defense Ministry gave food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter to the victims of the storm.cite web|author=Tuscan Daily CitizenHurricane Center|year=1966|title=Effects of Tropical Storm Kirsten on Mexico|accessdate=2008-10-08|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] .

When Kirsten was named, it marked the busiest season since naming began in 1960. This record would be broken by the following two hurricane seasons. Kirsten wasn't used in 1970 because Kristen was used, probably due to a clerical error, because Hurricane Kirsten of 1974 was the next use.

Retirement

Because the damage was low and the death toll relatively low, the name Kirsten was not retired and used in 1974. However, in 1978 the lists of named were changed, and the name Kirsten was not used on the new lists.

ee also

*1966 Pacific hurricane season
*Other Hurricanes named Kirsten

References