1972 Atlantic hurricane season
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Infobox tropical cyclone season The 1972 Atlantic hurricane season was a significantly below average season, having only seven named storms, four fully tropical storms (the fewest since 1930) and three subtropical storms.<ref name="mwr"/> It officially began on June 1, 1972, and lasted until November 30, 1972.<ref name="blm">Template:Cite report</ref> These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first storm, Subtropical Storm Alpha, developed on May 23 off the Southeast United States and struck Florida, causing minor damage and two fatalities.
The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Agnes, which at the time was the costliest United States hurricane, until Frederic in 1979.<ref name="blake"/> After brushing the western tip of Cuba, the hurricane made landfall on the Florida Panhandle. It caused at least $2.1 billion (1972 USD)<ref group="nb">All damage figures are in 1972 United States dollars, unless otherwise noted</ref> in damage and 137 fatalities, mostly from inland flooding in Pennsylvania and New York. The strongest hurricane of the season was Betty, which reached peak winds of Template:Convert while west of the Azores. Tropical Storm Carrie passed just offshore of Massachusetts, causing heavy rainfall and resulting in four fatalities, but leaving only $1.78 million in damage. The remaining tropical systems caused no significant effects on land.
Due to a strong El Niño only three systems strengthened into hurricanes, none of which intensified into major hurricanes.<ref group="nb">A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.<ref name="sshws">Template:Cite report</ref></ref> This was the first season to name subtropical storms, and did so using the Phonetic Alphabet. Collectively, the storms of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season resulted in 137 deaths and over $2.1 billion in damage.
Season summary
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The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1972.<ref name="blm"/> Although 19 tropical cyclones developed, only seven of were named, below the 1950-2000 average of 9.6 named storms per season.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name="gray2014">Template:Cite report</ref> Of the seven tropical or subtropical storms, three of them strengthened into hurricanes,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track which is also below average.<ref name="gray2014"/> None of the three hurricanes became major hurricanes, which is Category 3 or greater on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name="gray2014"/> Overall, the season was inactive, despite having a similar number of tropical waves as the previous season. The lack of activity was attributed to an El Niño – which causes below normal sea surface temperatures over the eastern Atlantic – and strong vertical wind shear.<ref name="mwr"/> One subtropical storm and two hurricanes made landfall during the season and caused at least 137 fatalities and more than $2.1 billion in damage.<ref name="mwr"/><ref name="blake">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="tpbp"/><ref name="ncdc"/><ref name="HAW2">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="meteo">Template:In lang Template:Cite report</ref> The last storm of the season, Subtropical Storm Delta, became extratropical on November 7,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track about 23 days before the official end of hurricane season on November 30.<ref name="blm"/>
Tropical cyclogenesis first occurred in the month of May, with the development of Subtropical Storm Alpha. The month of June featured three tropical cyclones, including Hurricane Agnes and two tropical depressions. Three more systems formed in July, though all of them failed to reach tropical storm status. August was the most active month of the season, with five systems, including Hurricane Betty, Tropical Storm Carrie, and three tropical depressions. September featured slightly less cyclogenesis, with Hurricane Dawn, Subtropical Storm Charlie, and two tropical depressions. An additional three tropical depressions formed in October. Subtropical Storm Delta was the sole system in November, lasting from November 1 to November 7.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
The season's activity was reflected with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) rating of 36, the lowest value since 1962.<ref name="ACE"/> Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration, such as Betty, will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of Template:Convert. Accordingly, tropical depressions are not included here. After the storm has dissipated, typically after the end of the season, the NHC reexamines the data, and produces a final report on each storm. These revisions can lead to a revised ACE total either upward or downward compared to the operational value.<ref name="ACE">Template:Cite report</ref>
Systems
Subtropical Storm Alpha
Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A subtropical depression developed from a cold-core low pressure area southeast of the Carolinas on May 23. After initially moving northeastward, it turned sharply southward on May 26 due to a building ridge of high pressure.<ref name="mwr"/> Later that day, the system strengthened into Subtropical Storm Alpha and proceeded to move toward the coast of Georgia. After peaking with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert, Alpha began weakening. Late on May 27, the storm made landfall near Brunswick, Georgia, with winds of Template:Convert. Alpha weakened to a subtropical depression and dissipated after entering the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on May 29.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Rough seas generated by the storm resulted in two people drowning in Florida and halted work to deepen a harbor at the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville.<ref name="tpbp">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tides along the Georgia coast reached Template:Convert above normal, which caused some flooding and beach erosion.<ref name="ncdc">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Wind gusts reached Template:Convert on Saint Simons Island.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> The winds knocked down trees and power lines, leaving some people without power in eastern Georgia. Damage was minor but widespread in the state, estimated at over $50,000.<ref name="ncdc"/> Moderate rains spread in coastal areas from South Carolina through southern Florida.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> North Carolina also experienced about $50,000 in damage, mostly due to erosion.<ref name="ncdc"/> Alpha was the first named subtropical storm.<ref name="mwr"/>
Hurricane Agnes
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A polar front and an upper trough over the Yucatán Peninsula spawned a tropical depression on June 14. The storm emerged into the western Caribbean Sea on June 15, and by the following day, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Agnes. The storm curved northward and brushed western Cuba on June 17. Agnes continued to intensify, and on June 18, it was upgraded to a hurricane. Minimal fluctuations in intensity occurred before the storm made landfall near Panama City, Florida, on June 19. After moving inland, Agnes rapidly weakened and was only a tropical depression when it entered Georgia. Thereafter, weakening slowed as the storm crossed over Georgia and into South Carolina. However, while over eastern North Carolina on June 21, Agnes re-strengthened into a tropical storm, as a result of baroclinic activity. Early the following day, the storm emerged into the Atlantic Ocean before re-curving northwestward and making landfall near New York City as a strong tropical storm. Agnes quickly merged with a non-tropical low pressure system on June 23.<ref name="mwr"/>
Heavy rainfall occurred in western Cuba, causing flooding that destroyed 97 houses, isolated a few cities, and flatted crops in low-lying areas.<ref name="RE">Template:Cite news</ref> The storm left seven fatalities.<ref name="HAW2"/> Agnes caused a significant tornado outbreak, with at least 26 confirmed twisters, 24 of them in Florida and the other two in Georgia. The tornadoes alone resulted in over $4.5 million in damage and six fatalities.<ref name="ncdc2">Template:Cite journal</ref> At least 2,082 structures in Florida suffered either major damage or were destroyed. About 1,355 other dwellings experienced minor losses.<ref name="table2">Template:Cite report</ref> Though Agnes made landfall as a hurricane, no hurricane-force winds were reported. Abnormally high tides resulted in extensive damage, especially between Apalachicola and Cedar Key.<ref name="mwr"/> The storm left nine deaths and approximately $40 million in damage in Florida.<ref name="MCD">Template:Cite report</ref> Generally minor effects were also recorded in the states of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as the New England region.<ref name="ncdc2"/> However, one fatality was reported in Delaware and three were recorded in Georgia.<ref name="mwr"/>
The most significant effects, by far, occurred in Pennsylvania, mostly due to severe flooding.<ref name="mwr"/> Precipitation peaked at Template:Convert in Schuylkill County,<ref name="rainfall">Template:Cite report</ref> causing several creeks and rivers crest at record height, including the Delaware, Juniata, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and West Branch Susquehanna rivers.<ref name="usgs">Template:Cite report</ref> More than 100,000 people were forced to leave their homes due to flooding.<ref name="mh0624p20-a">Template:Cite news</ref> In the state of Pennsylvania, more than 3,000 businesses and 68,000 homes were destroyed, leaving at least 220,000 people homeless.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Agnes remains one of the worst natural disasters in Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New York also suffered severe damage. Similarly, rivers in the state crested high, including the Allegheny, Chemung, Genesee, Susquehanna, and Tioga rivers.<ref name="usgs"/> Corning, Elmira, and Olean, as well as many other Southern Tier towns, were severely flooded.<ref name="ncdc2"/> Throughout New York, 32,832 homes were damaged and 628 others were damaged. A total of 1,547 small businesses were extensively damaged or demolished.<ref name="table2"/> In Canada, a mobile home was toppled, killing two people.<ref name="meteo"/> Overall, Agnes caused 131 fatalities and over $2.1 billion in damage.<ref name="blake"/><ref name="HAW2"/><ref name="meteo"/>
Hurricane Betty (Bravo)
Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small An area of disturbed weather appeared on satellite imagery while forming within an old frontal zone on August 21.<ref name="mwr"/> At 1200 UTC on the following day, a subtropical depression developed about Template:Convert north-northeast of Bermuda.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The system strengthened slowly as it headed east-northeastward or eastward and by August 24, it became Subtropical Storm Bravo. During the next 24 hours, minimal intensification occurred. However, a deepening high-level trough and a building ridge enhanced outflow and deep convection on August 25. Additionally, reconnaissance aircraft flights began indicating a transition to a warm-core. Unfavorable northwesterly winds briefly halted further development, though by late on August 26, Bravo resumed acquiring tropical characteristics after another deepening trough accelerated the storm eastward.<ref name="mwr"/>
After reconnaissance aircraft reported winds of Template:Convert and satellite imagery indicated a storm with a classic cyclonic appearance, Bravo was reclassified as Hurricane Betty while located about Template:Convert west of the Azores on August 27.<ref name="mwr"/> After some further strengthening, Betty attained its peak intensity as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert early on August 28. The hurricane then moved rapidly east-northeastward before decelerating late on the following day. Around that time, northerly winds aloft caused Betty to weaken to a Category 1 hurricane. After briefly moving southward, the storm curved back to a general westward direction and fell to tropical storm intensity on August 31. Later that day, Betty turned northward ahead of a trough and became extratropical about Template:Convert northwest of Corvo Island in the Azores on September 1.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Tropical Storm Carrie
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A complex system combining a tropical wave and an upper-level low led to the formation of a tropical depression east of Florida on August 29. It managed to become a tropical storm on August 31 and reached initial peak winds of Template:Convert later that day. However, upper-level winds increased, causing Carrie to weaken to a minimal tropical storm by September 2. Due to baroclinic processes, Carrie began to re-intensify. As a result, Carrie attained its peak winds of Template:Convert just prior to transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on September 3. The extratropical cyclone continued northeastward, and struck eastern Maine on September 4.<ref name="mwr">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By the following day, the extratropical cyclone dissipated over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Carrie had a minimal impact on the East Coast south of New England, limited to increased swells, gusty winds, and light rainfall. The worst conditions occurred over southeastern New England, where wind gusts reached Template:Convert and rainfall exceeded Template:Convert. Damage was most severe along and slightly inland from the coast. Thousands of people became stranded on offshore islands of Massachusetts after dangerous conditions created by the storm prompted the suspension of steamship service. Overall, damage was generally light, with total monetary losses valued at $1.78 million. Four deaths were blamed on the storm.<ref name="mwr"/>
Hurricane Dawn
Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A tropical wave, combined with an upper tropospheric trough,<ref name="mwr"/> resulted in the development of a tropical depression near Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas, on September 5. Later that day, the depression struck Key Largo, Florida, before moving inland over the mainland of Florida.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The storm brought very light rainfall to the state, peaking at Template:Convert in Tavernier. The system moved northeastward and soon re-emerged into the Atlantic.<ref name="dawnwpc">Template:Cite report</ref> While located north of Grand Bahama on September 6, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Dawn.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track On September 7, a cold low pressure developed near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, which would influence much of Dawn's movement.<ref name="mwr"/> Around that time, the storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. Dawn then curved west-northwestward on September 8 and peaked with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
With Dawn appearing as a threat to the Mid-Atlantic, storm and gale warnings were issued from Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia, to Cape May, New Jersey, on September 8.<ref name="mwr"/> However, the hurricane veered southeastward on September 9 and weakened to a tropical storm. By late on September 10, after the cold low pressure area relinquished influence over Dawn, the cyclone began moving westward, but continued to deteriorate. Dawn weakened to a tropical depression while well east of Georgia late on September 12. The system approached the Sea Islands on September 13, but curved northeastward and remained offshore. Dawn dissipated less than Template:Convert east of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, on September 14.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The storm also produced very light rainfall in Georgia and South Carolina.<ref name="dawnwpc"/>
Subtropical Storm Charlie
Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A very small, circular subtropical depression developed about Template:Convert northeast of Bermuda on September 19.<ref name="mwr"/> Initially, the storm moved north-northeastward and strengthened into Subtropical Storm Charlie early the following day. It then moved quickly northeastward and continued to strengthen. Later on September 20, Charlie peaked with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert. The system soon lost tropical characteristics and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about Template:Convert east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, early on September 21. However, the extratropical storm deepened significantly, reaching a barometric pressure of Template:Convert, a reading typical of a strong Category 3 hurricane. Early on September 22, the extratropical cyclone dissipated over the far north Atlantic.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Subtropical Storm Delta
Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A southwestward-moving cold-core low pressure area developed into a subtropical depression while located about Template:Convert west-southwest of Flores Island in the Azores on November 1.<ref name="mwr"/> After forming, the system soon strengthened and was upgraded to Subtropical Storm Delta. Early on November 3, Delta attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert. Around that time, the subtropical storm briefly moved southward, before beginning a general eastward movement on November 4. Delta soon began to weaken and was reduced to a subtropical depression by the following day. It continued eastward until November 6, at which time the storm decelerated and curved northward. Delta dissipated while located about Template:Convert southwest of Flores Island.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Other systems
In addition to the named storms, there were several weak depressions during the season. As Agnes was moving over the southeastern United States, a tropical depression formed approximately Template:Convert southwest of Bermuda on June 19. It moved northeastward and headed toward the island. The depression dissipated later the following day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The next tropical Depression developed offshore North Florida on July 10. Moving generally northward, the system made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina on July 12. The depression dissipated over Virginia about two days later. Generally light rainfall was reported in several states, though Template:Convert of precipitation was recorded on Cedar Island, North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Another tropical depression originated about Template:Convert southwest of Flores Island in the Azores on July 16. It trekked slowly until July 19, at which time the system curved northeastward. Late the following day, the depression dissipated about Template:Convert west of Flores Island. On July 31, a tropical depression formed about Template:Convert southeast of Bermuda. The depression moved southwestward, toward the Bahamas and Lesser Antilles, but dissipated about Template:Convert northeast of Turks and Caicos Islands on August 3.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
A tropical depression developed over Senegal on August 5. Tracking westward, the depression passed south of Cape Verde before dissipating southwest of the islands on August 8. Four days later, another tropical depression originated about Template:Convert east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. It moved slowly northeastward and intensified slightly, but dissipated about Template:Convert southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on August 15. The tenth tropical depression formed on August 16 while offshore Senegal. Moving generally westward, the cyclone crossed through Cape Verde and struck the islands of Fogo and Santiago. By August 18, the depression dissipated. Another tropical depression developed about Template:Convert east-southeast of Bermuda on September 3. The system moved northeastward toward the Azores, but degenerated about Template:Convert southwest of Flores Island on September 5. The next tropical depression formed on September 20 while located about Template:Convert west-southwest of Cape Verde. The storm tracked generally westward, but then began moving west-northwestward on September 21. Three days later, the depression dissipated about Template:Convert east-northeast of Barbados.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
On October 1, a tropical depression originated about Template:Convert east-southeast of Bermuda. The depression tracked generally northward and dissipated about Template:Convert south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, on October 3. Another tropical depression formed about Template:Convert west of Bolama, Guinea-Bissau, on October 5. The depression moved generally westward, before curving to the northwest on October 8. Five days later, it turned northward while well northeast of the Lesser Antilles. By October 14, the system began moving north-northeast. The depression dissipated about Template:Convert east-northeast of Bermuda on the following day. Yet another tropical depression formed about Template:Convert southwest of Brava, Cape Verde, on October 16. Initially the depression moved generally west-northwestward and dissipated about halfway between Barbados and Cape Verde.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Storm names
Template:Tropical cyclone naming The following list of names was used for named tropical storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1972.<ref name="NHOP 72">Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Storms were named Agnes, Betty and Dawn for the first (and only, in the case of Agnes) time in 1972.
The NATO phonetic alphabet (below) was used to designates subtropical cyclones that formed in the north Atlantic in 1972. Subtropical Storm Bravo became Betty after acquiring tropical characteristics.<ref name="mwr"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Retirement
Template:See also After the end of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season, the name Agnes was retired due to the amount of damage and loss of life.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
Season effects
This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1972 USD.
Template:TC stats table start3 Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name="tpbp"/><ref name="ncdc"/> Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name="blake"/><ref name="HAW2"/><ref name="meteo"/> Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name="mwr"/> Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3
Template:TC stats table end3See also
- 1972 Pacific hurricane season
- 1972 Pacific typhoon season
- 1972 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Australian region cyclone seasons: 1971–72 1972–73
- South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1971–72 1972–73
- South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1971–72 1972–73
Notes
References
<references />
External links
Template:1972 Atlantic hurricane season buttons Template:TC Decades Template:Tropical cyclone season