 Satellite image of the hurricane on September 9, 1971 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 5, 1971 |
| Dissipated | September 18, 1971 |
| Category 5 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 943mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 37 direct |
| Damage | $25.4 million (1971USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, NorthernVenezuela,Nicaragua,Honduras,Belize,Yucatán, Northeastern Mexico, Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi,Alabama, Florida,Georgia,Tennessee,North Carolina |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1971 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Edith was the strongesthurricane to form during the1971 Atlantic hurricane season and the southernmost landfallingCategory 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic at the time. Edith developed from atropical wave on September 5 and quickly strengthened into a hurricane in theCaribbean Sea. Edithrapidly intensified on September 9 and made landfall onCape Gracias a Dios asa Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). It quickly lost intensity over Central America and after briefly entering theGulf of Honduras it crossed theYucatán Peninsula in Mexico. After moving across theGulf of Mexico atrough turned the storm to the northeast and Edith, after having restrengthened while accelerating towards the coast, made landfall onLouisiana with winds of 105 mph (170 km/h) on September 16. Edith steadily weakened over land and dissipated overGeorgia on September 18.
The hurricane killed two people when it passed nearAruba. Striking northeastern Central America as a Category 5 hurricane, Edith destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least 35 people. In Texas high tides causedcoastal flooding but little damage. Edith caused moderate to heavy damage in portions of Louisiana due to flooding and a tornado outbreak from the storm. One tornado, rated F3 on theFujita Scale, damaged several homes and injured multiple people inBaton Rouge. The tornado outbreak extended eastward into Florida, of which a few destroyed entire buildings. Damage in the United States totaledUS$25 million (1971 USD, $194 million 2022 USD).
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionAtropical wave moved off the coast of Africa nearDakar on August 31. It moved westward into theIntertropical Convergence Zone, and organized into a tropical disturbance on September 2 with a small, circular area of convection. The system moved to the west, and on September 3, the convection diminished after moving west of 40° W.[1] By the next day, the tropical disturbance was barely discernible from the clouds of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.[2] The wave gradually became detached from the ITCZ, and based on areconnaissance flight that confirmed the existence of a low-level circulation, it is estimated the system developed into a tropical depression on September 5 while located 255 miles (410 km) east ofGrenada.[1]
The depression moved quickly westward, passing through the southernLesser Antilles early on September 6. The southern portion of the circulation passed over northeasternVenezuela, though after entering theCaribbean Sea, another reconnaissance flight was unable to confirm the existence of a low-level circulation.[2] Shortly thereafter, while moving into an area of lightwind shear, it was able to organize and strengthen further, and on September 7, the depression strengthened into Tropical StormEdith near the island ofCuraçao. While initially, a cold-core upper-levellow persisted about 750 miles (1,210 km) northwest of the storm, Edith moved west-northwestward due to the influence of a narrow and persistentridge of high pressure, which extended from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean to theGulf of Mexico. As the storm continued into open waters of the Caribbean, the upper-level low gradually weakened and was replaced with ananticyclone. This allowed the storm to strengthen further, and on September 8, Edith became a hurricane in the south-central Caribbean Sea.[1]
On September 9, the stormrapidly intensified, and within 24 hours, Edith strengthened from a minimal hurricane to a powerful 160 mph (260 km/h)Category 5 hurricane just off the coast ofNicaragua. The cause for the explosive deepening is unknown, though it is speculated that the transformation in the upper troposphere from an upper-level low to an anticyclone led to a release ofbaroclinic energy. Reconnaissance aircraft crews in the peak of the storm reported extreme turbulence, causing concern for the safety of the crews. At its peak intensity, the very well-defined"pinhole" eye was only 5 miles (8.0 km) in diameter. Late on September 9, Hurricane Edith made landfall on northeasternNicaragua atCabo Gracias a Dios.[1]
Hurricane Edith rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of northeastern Central America, and 18 hours after it made landfall, it emerged into theGulf of Honduras as an 80 mph (130 km/h)Category 1 hurricane. It continued to weaken as it moved northwestward, and made landfall nearBelize City withtropical storm winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Edith weakened further while crossing theYucatán Peninsula, and emerged into theGulf of Mexico nearCampeche, Mexico late on September 11 as a minimal tropical storm. Edith initially failed to re-intensify as it moved northwestward, despite low amounts ofwind shear and warm waters.[1] This was because an anticyclone over the Gulf was closely connected withHurricane Fern, which developed and moved over the northwestern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. The anticyclone resulted in an easterly upper-level flow across Edith, creatingconditions not conducive for intensification.[3] As Fern moved inland over Texas, the flow became more favorable around Edith, and 36 hours after entering the Gulf of Mexico, the storm began to reintensify slightly.[1]
Edith continued moving to the west-northwest, heading towards the coast of Mexico, but early on September 14, the storm stalled while located just off the coast ofTamaulipas. A mid-latitudetrough of low pressure approached the storm, and caused Edith to turn to slowly drift towards the northeast. Located only miles from the Mexican coast, Edith again failed to strengthen until September 15, when it accelerated northeastward and regained hurricane status. The hurricane turned to the east-northeast as it approached the coast ofLouisiana, and made landfall on September 16 in a sparsely populated area 30 miles (48 km) east ofCameron with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane in theSaffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Edith rapidly weakened over land, degenerating into a tropical storm over Louisiana, and into a tropical depression overMississippi. It continued to the east-northeast, and dissipated over northwesternGeorgia on September 18.[1]
Fourteen hours prior to Edith making landfall in Central America, theNational Hurricane Center warned citizens about the extreme danger of the approaching hurricane, and asked them to prepare for hurricane conditions. While the storm was located in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center issued aHurricane Warning fromCameron toMorgan City, Louisiana eighteen hours before the hurricane made landfall. Edith later struck land in the middle portion of the warning area.[4]
InBelize, officials ordered the mandatory evacuation of low-lying areas, resulting in hundreds of residents leaving to the United States through the international airport. Officials sent police troops to maintain order and prevent looting.[5]
In theGulf of Mexico, several oil facilities were closed or placed on automatic controls.Drilling rigs as far east as the coastal waters off ofMississippi were prepared to evacuate in the event Edith moved further east than anticipated. Additionally, thousands evacuated coastal areas ofLouisiana prior to the arrival of the hurricane. Several shelters opened in coastal cities, and many peopleprepared for the hurricane by purchasing emergency supplies. Officials closed schools throughout much of southern Louisiana.[6]
While passing through the southernLesser Antilles, the tropical depression produced heavy rainfall and winds of around 35 mph (56 km/h).[2] Edith produced tropical storm force winds inAruba, and gusts reached 60 mph (97 km/h). Two fishermen were reported lost at sea and presumed dead as a result of Edith.[1]
Edith produced strong winds across northeasternNicaragua and easternHonduras, withPuerto Lempira reporting an unofficial sustained wind of 140 mph (230 km/h). Press reports indicated every house in theCape Gracias area was destroyed or heavily damaged, leaving 7,000 homeless. The meteorological service inBritish Honduras stated there were 100 fatalities near Cape Gracias,[7] though a later report indicated 35 people died in Nicaragua. There, damage was estimated at over US$380,000 (1971 dollars$, 2.95 million in 2024 dollars).[8] ThreeUnited States Air Force aircraft delivered food, medical supplies, and fuel to the hurricane victims of Nicaragua.[9] In Honduras, the hurricane produced 15 feet (4.6 m) tides and strong winds, while strong waves destroyed 40 fishing boats as well.[10] While the hurricane reportedly destroyed entire villages,[11] no deaths occurred in Honduras.[1]
Offshore islands inBelize reported winds of up to 60 mph (97 km/h).[1] Edith produced flooding in a few towns in the southern portion of the country, with some buildings damaged. Heavy damage was reported nearMonkey River Town.[5] Impact in Mexico, if any, is unknown.
Two stations in Texas recorded sustained tropical force winds, andGalveston reported a peak wind gust of 53 mph (85 km/h). While moving past the state, Edith produced above normal tides of over 4 feet (1.2 m) in locations,[1] which flooded a portion ofHighway 87.[12] The storm dropped light to moderate amounts of rainfall peaking at 3.5 inches (89 mm) inSabine Pass.[1] The passage of Hurricane Edith resulted in downed trees and power lines, and damage totaling US$180,000 (1971 dollars, $900,000 in 2006 dollars).[12]
Off the coast ofLouisiana, the hurricane wrecked three boats, but all the occupants were safely rescued.[11] While making landfall inLouisiana, Edith resulted in above normal tides of up to 9.7 feet (3.0 m) above normal atCypremont Point nearMorgan City.[1] The highest winds reported by a land station were 69 mph (111 km/h) atCameron, where a wind gust of 96 mph (154 km/h) was also reported. However, due to the lack of recording instruments near the hurricane's landing point, whether higher winds occurred there is not known, although likely.[7] Rainfall was moderate across Louisiana, including amounts of over 8 inches (200 mm) in the southwestern portion of the state.[1] A strongrainband well ahead of the hurricane,[1] combined with the intrusion of dry air into the hurricane's circulation, produced 16 tornadoes from Louisiana toAlabama.[13] AnF3 tornado touched down in the eastern residential suburbs ofBaton Rouge, causing heavy property damage totaling $2.5 million (1971 dollars$, 19.4 million in 2024 dollars) along its intermittent 7 miles (11 km) path. The tornado also injured three people.[1][14] An F2 tornado inTangipahoa Parish caused $250,000 in damage (1971 dollars$, 1.94 million in 2024 dollars) along its 4-mile (6.4 km) path,[15] while an F1 tornado inSt. Martin Parish injured 6 people on its 3-mile (4.8 km) path.[16] The hurricane caused extensive damage to the sugar cane crop in southwestern Louisiana.[7] About a month after Edith struck the United States,PresidentRichard Nixon declared portions ofLouisiana as a disaster area, which allocated relief funds to aid the affected citizens.[17]
InMississippi, wind gusts peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h) inHattiesburg, with multiple locations reporting tropical-storm-force winds. Additionally, Edith produced moderate rainfall peaking at 6.15 inches (156 mm) inLiberty. InAlabama, the storm caused light rains, moderate wind gusts, and a storm tide of 2.7 feet (0.82 m) inMobile.[1] Edith spawned four tornadoes in Alabama, three of which wereF2 tornadoes. Two touched down inBaldwin County; one destroyed two homes and damaged several others, and the other destroyed two mobile homes, a few barns, and damaged ten houses. Two tornadoes also touched down inWashington County, one of which destroyed several small buildings and downed a few trees.[18] In Florida, Edith produced slightly above-normal tides and light rain. It spawned a tornado inPensacola, Florida,[1] injuring one person and inflicting $25,000 in damage (1971 dollars, $125,000 in 2006 dollars).[19] Damage throughout the United States totaled $25 million (1971 dollars$, 194 million in 2024 dollars), primarily from crop damage in southwest Louisiana. No deaths were reported in the United States.[1]
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