Hurricane Anita

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Anita
Type=hurricane
Year=1977
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Anita.jpg


Formed=August 29, 1977
Dissipated=September 4, 1977
1-min winds=150
Pressure=926
Da

Fatalities=10 direct
Areas=Northeastern Mexico
Hurricane season=1977 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Anita was a powerful Category 5 Atlantic hurricane during an otherwise quiet 1977 Atlantic hurricane season. The first tropical cyclone of the season, Anita developed from a tropical wave on August 29 in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. It tracked westward into an area with conditions favorable for further development, and quickly intensified into a hurricane by late on August 30. Initially, Anita was forecast to strike Texas, though a building ridge turned it to the west-southwest. The hurricane rapidly strengthened to attain peak winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), and on September 2 Anita made landfall in eastern Tamaulipas as a Category 4 hurricane. It quickly weakened as it crossed Mexico, and after briefly redeveloping into a tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Anita dissipated on September 4 to the south of the Baja California Peninsula.

The hurricane produced light rainfall and high tides along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Some low-level flooding was reported, but damage was minimal. In Mexico, the hurricane caused strong winds and moderate rainfall. The winds caused extensive damage to villages in northeastern Mexico, with about 25,000 people left homeless. The rainfall, reaching over 17.52 inches (445 mm), caused flooding and mudslides which killed ten people in Tamaulipas. The overall damage is unknown.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 16. The wave axis tracked steadily westward, and on August 23 convection increased after the wave passed beneath a cold-core upper-level low. By August 27, the wave axis was located over Cuba, with the area of convection located between Florida and the Bahamas after tracking northwestward. The disturbance crossed southern Florida, and after entering the Gulf of Mexico an anticyclone provided favorable conditions for further development. It tracked slowly westward at 5 mph (7 km/h), and after developing a surface circulation the system developed into a tropical depression on August 29 while located about 230 miles (370 km) south-southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana.cite web|author=Miles B. Lawrence|year=1978|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1977|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-06-24|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1977.pdf]

With a ridge of high pressure to its north, the depression tracked westward. Favorable conditions persisted for several days prior to the arrival of the depression, and as such the depression quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Anita. The storm tracked slowly over anomalously warm water temperatures, and throughout its duration it was embedded within warm, moist tropical air; Anita rapidly organized and attained hurricane status late on August 30; this is the latest date for the first hurricane since 1967, and was the latest first hurricane for any Atlantic Season at the time, until Hurricane Gustav in 2002 did so later in September.cite web| author=NHC Hurricane Research Division|title=Atlantic hurricane best track|publisher=NOAA|year=2007|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html] Initially it threatened to strike Texas, though building high pressures to the north of the hurricane turned Anita to the west-southwest. The hurricane developed a well-defined eye, and Hurricane Anita began to rapidly intensify late on September 1 after attaining major hurricane status. During a two-day period up to its peak intensity, Anita deepened at a rate of 2 mbar per hour, and on September 2 the hurricane reached peak winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) while located just offshore northeastern Mexico, making Anita a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Hurricane Anita maintained its strength as it approached land, and at 1100 UTC on September 2 it made landfall on Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas, about 145 miles (235 km) south of Brownsville, Texas or 80 miles (130 km) north of Tampico, Mexico as a 160 mph storm. cite web|author=David Roth|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/anita1977.html|title=Hurricane Anita - August 30-September 4, 1977|accessdate=2008-01-27] Moving ashore with a pressure of 926 mbar, Anita was the third most intense tropical cyclone to strike the nation, the 2nd Category 5 after 1955's Janet, and was the only cat 5 hurricane to hit from the Gulf coast; the others hit Quintana Roo on the Caribbean coast, with the exeption of a Pacific Storm in 1959.cite web| author=NHC Hurricane Research Division|title=Atlantic hurricane best track|publisher=NOAA|year=2007|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html] cite web|author=Hurricane Research Division|year=2007|title=Hurricane Data for Pacific Hurricanes 1949-2006|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2006_epa.txt] It rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of Mexico, and on September 3, about 25 hours after moving ashore, Anita emerged into the eastern Pacific Ocean as a tropical depression. Reclassified as Tropical Depression Eleven, the system continued to the west, and weakened further after encountering cooler water temperatures. The depression gradually lost its deep convection, and on September 4 it dissipated off the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.cite web|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/106/4/pdf/i1520-0493-106-4-546.pdf|author=Emil B. Gunther|title=Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1977|publisher=American Meteorological Society|work=Monthly Weather Review|format=PDF|pages=555|date=April 1977|accessdate=2006-12-03]

Preparations

Shortly after first developing, one oil company evacuated its oil rigs off Texas and Louisiana by helicopter, with several other companies beginning to evacuate unneeded workers.cite news|author=United Press International|date=1977-08-30|title=Hurricane depression rakes gulf|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] Ultimately, 7,000 oil workers were removed from offshore oil platforms. The threat of the developing disturbance prompted officials to close a state park in southern Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center advised small craft along the northern Gulf Coast to remain at port. Initially, Anita was predicted to continue tracking west-northwestward and make landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border. As a result, schools in Cameron Parish, Louisiana were closed,cite news|author=United Press International|date=1977-08-30|title=Storm Anita Could Grow|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] and on August 30 a hurricane watch was issued for the southwestern Louisiana and northeastern Texas coastlines. After the track shifted further to the south, the watch was replaced with a hurricane warning between Brownsville and just south of Corpus Christi, Texas. An emergency shelter was opened in Brownwood, Texas, and Army trucks were prepared to assist in evacuations.cite news|author=Baytown Sun|date=1977-08-30|title=Tide Alert Sounded; Brownwood Moving|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] An official from the National Weather Service recommended evacuation for all residents east of Galveston, Texas living in an area below 5 feet (1.5 m) above sea level; about 20,000 left Cameron, Louisiana.cite news|author=United Press International|date=1977-08-31|title=Hurricane Anita Heads for Texas|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In all, about 58,000 people evacuated coastal locations in Louisiana and Texas.

Though the National Hurricane Center did not issue hurricane warnings for Mexico, officials warned the Mexican government of the potential danger of the hurricane. Across the northeastern coastline of the country, 35,000 people evacuated prior to the arrival of the hurricane, including all of the residents in the village where the hurricane struck.cite web|author=United Press International|date=1977-09-02|title=Hurricane Strikes Coast of Mexico|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] The Mexican army assisted in evacuations and preparing emergency shelters.

Impact

United States

As the precursor tropical disturbance crossed southern Florida, it dropped light rainfall of over 1 inch (25 mm) in the Miami area.cite web|author=David Roth|year=2007|title=Rainfall Summary for Hurricane Anita|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/anita1977.html] Later, as a developing tropical depression, the system produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall in southern Louisiana; one station near Galliano reported over 3 inches (76 mm) of precipitation. Hurricane Anita produced a storm tide of 2 feet (0.6 m) above normal in Grand Isle, which resulted in hundreds of families being asked to leave their homes.

The hurricane produced above-normal tides along the Texas coastline, which closed several highways including State Highway 87. The northern periphery of Hurricane Anita produced light to moderate rainfall across the southern portion of the state, which peaked at 4.97 inches (126 mm) at Rio Grande City. Damage in the state was minor; on South Padre Island damage was limited to a few broken windows.cite web|author=United Press International|date=1977-09-03|title=Anita's Damage in Texas Slight|accessdate=2007-06-25|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

Mexico

Hurricane Anita made landfall in a sparsely populated portion of Mexico; as a result, few meteorological statistics exist. A station near where the hurricane moved ashore recorded 17.52 inches (445 mm) of precipitation in six hours, which resulted in severe flooding and mudslides. Winds along the eastern Mexican coastline were estimated at over 100 mph (160 km/h).----The passage of the hurricane caused extensive damage to fishing and farming communities in northeastern Mexico. Strong winds destroyed thousands of homes and left about 25,000 people homeless, according to newspaper reports from Mexico City. The winds destroyed the roofs of most buildings near where the hurricane moved ashore,cite web|author=Associated Press|date=1977-09-04|title=Remnants of Hurricane Move into Pacific Ocean|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] and also caused widespread power outages which disrupted communications. Heavy rainfall destroyed or obstructed roadways across the region,cite web|author=Associated Press|date=1977-09-02|title=Storm slams into Mexico|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] with some flooded avenues in Tampico and reports of flooded highways near Ciudad Victoria. Ten people were killed in floods and mudslides across Tamaulipas. In all, at least 50,000 people were affected by the hurricane in Mexico.cite web|author=Organization of American States|title=Chapter 12- Hurricane Hazards|accessdate=2007-06-26|url=http://www.oas.org/dsd/publications/unit/oea66e/ch12.htm]

Aftermath

The name Anita was retired following this storm, and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again. Due to a naming change in 1979, it was not replaced by any particular name. Shortly after the hurricane made landfall, the government of Mexico sent two trucks of food to the areas of greatest impact.cite web|author=Associated Press|date=1977-09-02|title=La Pesca Bears Brunt of Anita's Fury|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] Additionally, officials permitted full use of the Mexican railway system to facilitate the distribution of aid.cite web|author=Associated Press|date=1977-09-02|title=Mexican Troops Begin Evacuating Matamoros|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In Texas, the combination of moderate rainfall and high tides into low-lying marshland led to a mosquito outbreak near Galveston following the storm.cite news|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Galveston Daily News|date=1977-09-03|title=Mosquitoes Left Behind by Anita|accessdate=2007-06-28|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

ee also

* List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
* List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1977.pdf Monthly Weather Review for 1977]