Hurricane Olivia (1982)
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 18, 1982 |
Dissipated | September 25, 1982 |
Category 4 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 145 mph (230 km/h) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 3 indirect |
Damage | ≤ $475 million (1982 USD) |
Areas affected | Revillagigedo Islands, California, Western United States, Southwestern Canada |
Part of the 1982 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Olivia was a powerful and destructive Category 4 hurricane, that brought damaging floods to California and Utah during September 1982. Olivia was the twenty-fourth tropical cyclone, eighteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the active 1982 Pacific hurricane season. The storm was first noted as a tropical depression from a ship report off the southern coast of Mexico. Olivia then steadily intensified before becoming a Category 4 hurricane, and reaching its peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of around 145 mph (230 km/h), at 18:00 UTC on September 21. The hurricane then rapidly weakened as it passed west of mainland Mexico, before being last noted to the west of California on September 25, as a surface trough.
Moisture from Olivia was pulled across the
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Olivia can be traced back to a weather report from the cargo ship, Port Latta Maru, roughly 400 miles (650 km) south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. This reported stated that a tropical cyclone had formed in the area, around 18:00 UTC on September 18. The system moved gradually to the north-northwest while strengthening over warm waters. By 6:00 UTC on September 19, the cyclone was upgraded into a tropical storm, and was provided the name Olivia.[1]
Olivia steadily strengthened while shifting to the northwest, over slightly warmer sea surface temperatures. At 6:00 UTC the next day, Olivia was upgraded into a Category 1 hurricane. Just a few hours later, the hurricane turned to the west-northwest, beneath the southern periphery of an upper-level high located over southern Baja California. Olivia continued to rapidly intensify, reaching its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane at 18:00 UTC on September 21, with 1-minute sustained winds of around 145 mph (230 km/h). At this time the storm also presented a well-defined eye. The hurricane then maintained its intensity for about 12 hours, before weakening ensued.[1]
Olivia weakened over the next couple of days, while turning to the north-west along the western periphery of the upper-level high. The system was downgraded into a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC on September 23, while moving over cooler waters. Around this time, moisture from the storm was being carried across the
Preparations, impact, and aftermath
California
A dam burst in the
In the Inland Empire, moisture from Olivia caused minimal damage. Numerous utility poles caught fire in the region. Slick roads caused a car accident in Yucaipa, causing one minor injury.[5] In Malibu, stormy weather caused a plane to crash into hills at the Malibu Creek State Park, killing three people.[6] Olivia also caused stormy weather in San Bernardino County. In Calimesa, a telephone pole was struck by lightning. Roughly 1,150 customers of Southern California Edison lost electricity. The power outage affected companies such as Frito-Lay, the KDIG radio station, and a hotel. Power outages also trapped one person in an elevator in Ontario.[7]
Following the floods, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the Big Pine area. This was done to allow federal loans and other assistance to be provided for the region. Search and rescue workers were able to save 20 campers and residents who were stranded along Big Pine Creek.[8] The flood in Big Pine was found to be caused by a dam collapse. An investigation was opened into the cause of the incident, but no explanation was discovered.[9]
Olivia caused millions of dollars worth of agricultural damage in California. In the state, half of the raisin crop, a quarter of the wine crop, and a tenth of the tomato crop were damaged. According to the
Utah
Ahead of the storm, a Flash flood watch was put in effect for parts of Utah on September 27.[11] Flash flooding in Springdale swept mud and rocks through parts of the community. Rockslides forced the evacuation of campgrounds at Zion National Park.[12] Several basements were flooded in Lehi. In Alpine, flooding isolated four houses. A mudslide was reported at the American Fork Canyon. Slick roads were reported at the Uinta and Wasatch National Forests, while a main road between several canyons was impassible.[11]
Widespread floods occurred across the
Utah Governor
Flooding caused $500,000 (1982
Elsewhere
Rainfall produced by Olivia was reported in Nevada.[24] In Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, moisture from Olivia caused snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. This prompted a travel alert to be issued for portions of the region.[25] With 2.20 in (56 mm) of rain in Powell, Idaho, Olivia became the wettest tropical cyclone in state history.[23]Precipitation from the storm was also recorded in Southwestern Canada.[26]
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of California hurricanes
- Hurricane Nora (1997) — took a nearly identical track and affected similar areas
- Hurricane Max (2005)- took similar impacts to Southern California brought identical to rain as a cold front on September 20, 2005
- Hurricane Dolores (2015) — caused similar impacts in California.
- Hurricane Kay (2022)- Took a nearly identical and it was a remnant low in California.
References
- ^ a b c d "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1982" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Remains of Olivia – September 23–28, 1982". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ United Press International (September 27, 1982). "Twisters Twirl East, Floods Awash West". The Daily Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ John Kendall, Cathleen Decker (September 27, 1982). "8 Big Pine Homes Lost In Sierra Flood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Obrey Brown (September 27, 1982). "City catches tail-end of wet tropical storm". Redlands Daily Facts. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ UPI (September 27, 1982). "Malibu storm causes plane crash, three killed". The Chico Enterprise-Record. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jan-Christina Sears (September 28, 1982). "Olivia departs area growling, spitting out hail". The San Bernardino County Sun. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Stranded Campers Airlifted". Oroville Mercury Register. September 29, 1982. Retrieved March 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ UPI (September 29, 1982). "Collapse of Bishop dam still a mystery". The Chico Enterprise-Record. Retrieved March 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ John Rice (September 28, 1982). "Crop Losses May Reach $450 Million". Associated Press, Oroville Mercury. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ a b Josephine Zimmerman (September 27, 1982). "The Daily Herald – September 27, 1982". The Daily Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kris Dangerfield (September 27, 1982). "Flash flood inundates Springdale". The Daily Spectrum. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Storm Slams Region; Flooding Widespread". The Salt Lake Tribune. September 27, 1982. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ UPI (September 27, 1982). "Record rainfall floods Salt Lake County". The Daily Spectrum. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Record-breaking rain drenches Utah County". The Payson Chronicle. September 29, 1982. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Parts of Utah under flood emergency". El Paso Times. Associated Press. September 28, 1982. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Floods Hammer Utah, California". Philadelphia Daily News. September 28, 1982. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe Rolando (September 29, 1982). "County Mops Up Under Threat of More Rain". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ben Ling (September 29, 1982). "Murray Needs Helpers". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b UPI (September 30, 1982). "Flood danger past, cleanup and damage assessment start". The Daily Spectrum. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Springdale Declared Disaster Area". Washington County News. September 30, 1982. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "County In State of Emergency After Floods". The Salt Lake Tribune. September 28, 1982. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the West". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ "Flood". Reno Gazette-Journal. September 27, 1982. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rain dampens flood control". The Daily Utah Chronicle. September 29, 1982. Retrieved January 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Remains of Olivia – September 23–28, 1982". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
External links
- The Weather Prediction Center's report on Hurricane Olivia