Tropical Storm Kirsten (1966)

Tropical Storm Kirsten was the eighth tropical cyclone of the 1966 Pacific hurricane season and the second to make landfall in the Baja California peninsula. Forming north of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), Kirsten developed into a tropical depression on September 25 and like Tropical Storm Joyce of the same season, took a long period of time before intensifying into a tropical storm.

For other uses, see Tropical Storm Kirsten.
Tropical Storm Kirsten
Tropical Storm Kirsten's surface analysis on September 28.
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 26, 1966 (1966-09-26)
Remnant lowSeptember 28, 1966 (1966-09-28)
DissipatedSeptember 29, 1966 (1966-09-29)
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities8 total
Damage$5.6 million (1966 USD)
Areas affected
Part of the 1966 Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Storm Kirsten had caused much damage and was the costliest storm of the season, in front of Hurricane Adele, which had previously affected the Baja California peninsula before. 8 people had died due to flooding and winds caused by Kirsten.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  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
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

6 days after Joyce's dissipation, a tropical depression formed north of the Intertropical Convergence Zone on the evening of August 25.[1][2] The storm was then named Tropical Depression Sixteen-EIt took an extended amount of time, about 3 days before it intensified into a tropical storm.[3] The storm was designated as Tropical Storm Kirsten.[4]

After it was upgraded, Kirsten swept the Baja California Peninsula, mainly Baja California Sur. Kirsten made landfall again about halfway between Los Mochis and Ciudad Obregón, Mexico. Kirsten weakened, but maintained tropical storm status before making landfall in Sinaloa.[2] While making landfall, Kirsten made extensive damage in the peninsula. The winds of Kirsten were up to 50 knots (58 mph) while making landfall.[3][4] 8 people died from Kirsten's waves.[5] Kirsten degenerated into a remnant low on September 28 and dissipated on September 29 near Navojoa.[2][1]

Impact

Tropical Storm Kirsten was the second storm to impact Mexico and the costliest tropical cyclone to impact Mexico that year, doing more than $5.6 million in 1966 USD which is 44.1 million in 2019 USD.[5][6] 8 people had died from drowning, but there were no reports of flooding.[5][7]

Flooding and strong winds destroyed more than 1000 homes. After the storm dissipated, the Mexican Defense Ministry gave provided food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter to the victims of Kirsten, mainly in Sinaloa and Sonora.[8] The storm was the deadliest tropical cyclone that year, with only 1 death from that hurricane season from another tropical cyclone.

See also

References
  1. Climatological Data: National summary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center. 1966.
  2. SUMMARY OF TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN (180 DEGREES TO NORTH AMERICAN COAST) FOR 1966. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1966. pp. 9/231.
  3. Service, United States Environmental Data (1966). Climatological Data: National Summary. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data Service.
  4. Mariners Weather Log. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service. 1966.
  5. "thehurricanearchive.com". thehurricanearchive.com. November 11, 2015. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  6. Service, United States Environmental Data (1966). Climatological Data: National Summary. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data Service.
  7. Climatological Data: National summary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center. 1966. pp. 73–74.
  8. "Effects of Tropical Storm Kirsten in Mexico". The Hurricane Archive. 1966. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
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