Hurricane Fern (1971)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Fern
Type=hurricane
Year=1971
Basin=Atl
Image location=Fern09-1971.jpg


Formed=September 3, 1971
Dissipated=September 13, 1971
1-min winds=80
Pressure=979
Da

Fatalities=0 direct, 2 indirect
Areas=Louisiana,Texas, northern Mexico
Hurricane season=1971 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Fern was the sixth named storm and fourth hurricane of the 1971 Atlantic hurricane season. Fern formed from a tropical wave which interacted with a large trough of low pressure which formed Ginger, Heidi and a tropical depression. Fern crossed southeastern Louisiana as a tropical depression on September 4 before swinging back out over the Gulf of Mexico. Fern reached hurricane status on September 8, reaching a peak intensity of 90 mph (140 km/h) before making landfall near Freeport, Texas two days later.

Fern's path was erratic since it made 90° turns three times during its duration, making it difficult for forecasters to track.cite web|author=R.H. Simpson and John R. Hope|year=1971|title=1971 Atlantic hurricane season summary|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-10-24|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1971.pdf] The second Atlantic tropical cyclone to make U.S. landfall that year, Fern produced heavy rainfall across Louisiana and Texas, causing flash flooding that left 2 indirect fatalities and over $30 million dollars (1971 USD, $143.7 million 2005 USD) in damage.

Meteorological history

A northwestward moving tropical wave moved out the Caribbean Sea on September 1 and became a tropical depression on September 2 after crossing southern Florida. Still moving northwestward, the tropical depression made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on September 4. A building high pressure system over the Central United States forced the tropical depression to move southeast over the Gulf of Mexico. The warm waters then cause the depression to reach tropical storm strength and the storm was given the name "Fern" by the National Hurricane Center on September 7.

The following day, Fern reached hurricane status as it neared the Texas coastline. The hurricane reached a peak intensity of 90 mph (140 km/h) and its barometric pressure dropped to 979 millibars. An incoming mid-latitude trough caused Fern to stall east of Texas for twelve hours. After the trough moved by, Fern turned southwest, parelling the Texas coastline before making landfall on September 10 between Freeport and Matagorda.cite web|author=Weather Underground|year=2006|title=Hurricane Fern Best Track Data|accessdate=2006-10-25|url=http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at197107.asp]

At landfall, Fern had weakened to a strong tropical storm as it moved further inland. Because the center of Fern was elongated, it was still able to receive moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and as a result, weakening was slow. Between September 10 and September 11, Fern bypassed Corpus Christi, Texas before dissipating as a tropical depression after crossing the Rio Grande River into northern Mexico.

Preparations

At the time of its formation, Forecasters determine that Fern might loop around in the Gulf of Mexico and it was more threatening to land than Hurricane Edith which was also projected to hit the Gulf Coast. [cite web|author=United Press International|year=1971|title=Two Storms Brew in Caribbean|accessdate=2006-10-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] On September 9, as Fern was getting organized, Forecasters issued a hurricane watch along the Texas coast, anticipating that Fern might strengthen into a hurricane. In addition, small boats were warned to stay in port and residents were advised to be aware of storm conditions brought by Fern. The next day, the hurricane watches were changed to warnings, forcing residents living on the Texas coast to board up and evacuate. In preparation for the storm's impact, Civil Defense workers and the American Red Cross were put on alert. [cite web|author=Associated Press|year=1971|title=Hurricane, Storm Churning|publisher=Florence Morning News|accessdate=2006-10-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] [cite web|author=United Press International|year=1971|title=Storm Moves on Texas Coast|publisher=News Journal|accessdate=2006-10-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In Galveston, eight emergency shelters were planned to open but five were closed when officials learned that they were not needed as most residents chose to ride out the storm in their homes. When Fern moved inland, the National Weather Service issued 21 tornado warnings and numerous flood warnings.cite web|author=Associated Press|year=1971|title=Hurricane Fern Slows;Edith rakes Honduras|publisher=Charleston Daily Mail|accessdate=2006-10-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In North Beach, city buses were used to transport evacuees inland and local officials were concerned about what to do with the relief trailers used house survivors of Hurricane Celia a year earlier. cite web|author=National Weather Service|year=2006|title=Upper Texas Coast Tropical Cyclones in the 1970s|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-11-01|url=http://www.srh.weather.gov/hgx/hurricanes/1970s.htm]

Impact

outheastern United States

The precursor disturbance which later became Fern dropped rainfall up to 5 inches (127 mm) across South Florida. Central and Northern Florida received 1-3 inches (25.4-76.2 mm) of rain. In Louisiana, after making landfall as a tropical depression, Fern produced rainfall up to 10 inches (254 mm) across the southeastern part of the state. In New Orleans, rainfall up to 7 inches (177.8 mm) was reported. The outer bands of the tropical depression brought 3-5 inches (76.2-127 mm) of rain across the coastal sections of Mississippi and Alabama. There were no reports of damage and/or fatalities in either Florida or The eastern U.S. Gulf Coast.cite web|author=David Roth|year=2006|title=HPC Report on Fern|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-10-26|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/fern1971.html]

Texas

A weather station in Port O'Connor recorded a sustained wind speed of 86 mph (138 km/h). In Corpus Christi, winds up to 66 mph (106 km/h) were reported. In coastal Texas, storm tides 5-6 feet (2.5-3 meters) above normal was reported from Galveston to Freeport and one spotter reported seeing a flock of swallows in the eye of the storm during landfall. Heavy rainfall from the hurricane fell across eastern and central Texas. 10-26 inches (254-660.4 mm) of rain was reported from Bee to San Patricio County. Other locations in Texas reported rainfall between 10-15 inches (254-381 mm), while areas from Galveston to Rockport received 5-12 inches (127-304.8) of rain. The heavy rainfall caused severe flash flooding that isolated numerous small towns in eastern and central Texas. An outbreak of five tornadoes was reported during Fern's landfall, two of the tornadoes caused minor tree and roof damage in Texas City. In addition, lightning from the hurricane caused six reported house fires in Galvestion Island while 7,500 homes and business were damaged (mainly from flooding) near Corpus Christi. Two indirect fatalities were reported, both were from drowning incidents, in Mustang Island the hurricane caused four Cuban fishing boats to run aground. In all the storm left $30.2 million dollars (1971 USD, $143.7 million 2005 USD) in damage and two deaths.

Because the low damage and few fatalities, the name Fern was not retired. However a change in the naming policy prevented the further use of the name Fern. As a result, this was the second time the name Fern was used in the Atlantic basin.

ee also

* Tropical cyclone
* List of wettest tropical cyclones in Texas

References