Hurricane Newton (1986)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Newton was one of the two storms that was intercepted by Hurricane Hunter flights during the moderately active 1986 Pacific hurricane season
. A tropical depression formed near Central America
on September 18. It did not reach tropical storm status until September 20. Moving towards to northwest, Newton strengthened into a hurricane on September 21. The hurricane reached its peak intensity at about 85 mph (145 km/h). On September 22, Newton move ashore near Cabo San Lucas
and moved inland into the mainland the next day. Newton dissipated on September 23. However, the remnants of Newton continued across the United States and eventually entered the Atlantic Ocean. Damage in Mexico was minor and no fatalities were reported in association with Newton, though the remnants produced heavy rains in the Central United States
.
in mid-September. Steered by an upper-level trough
, the system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on September 18. It was located beneath an anticyclone
and over sea surface temperatures of 84 °F (28.9 °C). The system intensified as it paralleled the Mexican coast
, and was upgraded into Tropical Storm Newton early on September 20. After continued intensification, Newton attained hurricane strength at 0600 UTC September 21.
From 1800 UTC September 21 to 0000 UTC September 22, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the hurricane, observing winds of 74 mph (33.1 m/s) to 79 mph (127.1 km/h) and a pressure of 984 mb
. Newton was one of the two storms of the season to receive such a flight; the other storm was Hurricane Paine
later that month. At 1800 UTC September 22, Hurricane Newton made landfall just east of Cabo San Lucas
as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. After emerging into the Gulf of California
, the storm reached its peak wind speed of 85 mph (136.8 km/h) about 60 mi (96.6 km) north of La Paz, Baja California Sur
. By 1800 UTC, the hurricane moved ashore near Punta Rosa and quickly dissipated. The remnants of the cyclone moved into New Mexico
and then the Central United States
until entering the Atlantic Ocean
from the Mid-Atlantic States
late in the month.
noted the threat high waves, storm surge
, and flood
ing. In addition, the navy, army, and police were on high alert in populated areas such as La Paz
due to the hurricane. While they were no emergencies, moderate rainfall was recorded, with a country-wide peak of 9.23 inches (234.4 mm) in Jopala.
Damage in Mexico
was minor with roofs being ripped off and high winds blowing down trees and utility poles. No injuries or fatalities were reported in association with Newton. Along with a cold front
over the Great Plains
, Newton was predicted to cause heavy rains over New Mexico
and western Texas
, so flash flood warnings and watches were issued by the National Weather Service
for parts of western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
. The highest rainfall total was 5.88 inches (149.4 mm) in Edwardsville, Kansas
. The rainfall extended as far east as Pennsylvania. Across Kansas City
, Missouri
, 20,000 customers were without power since heavy rainfall downed power lines.
1986 Pacific hurricane season
The 1986 Pacific hurricane season was less active than the 1985 Pacific hurricane season. It officially started May 15, 1986 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1986 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1986. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when almost...
. A tropical depression formed near Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
on September 18. It did not reach tropical storm status until September 20. Moving towards to northwest, Newton strengthened into a hurricane on September 21. The hurricane reached its peak intensity at about 85 mph (145 km/h). On September 22, Newton move ashore near Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
and moved inland into the mainland the next day. Newton dissipated on September 23. However, the remnants of Newton continued across the United States and eventually entered the Atlantic Ocean. Damage in Mexico was minor and no fatalities were reported in association with Newton, though the remnants produced heavy rains in the Central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Meteorological history
The origins of Newton are from an area of disturbed weather near NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in mid-September. Steered by an upper-level trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
, the system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on September 18. It was located beneath an anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
and over sea surface temperatures of 84 °F (28.9 °C). The system intensified as it paralleled the Mexican coast
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and was upgraded into Tropical Storm Newton early on September 20. After continued intensification, Newton attained hurricane strength at 0600 UTC September 21.
From 1800 UTC September 21 to 0000 UTC September 22, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the hurricane, observing winds of 74 mph (33.1 m/s) to 79 mph (127.1 km/h) and a pressure of 984 mb
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
. Newton was one of the two storms of the season to receive such a flight; the other storm was Hurricane Paine
Hurricane Paine (1986)
Hurricane Paine in 1986 contributed to one of the most significant flooding events in Oklahoma history. The 16th tropical storm and 8th hurricane of the 1986 Pacific hurricane season, Paine formed on September 28 off the southeast coast of Mexico. It moved around a ridge, later turning to the north...
later that month. At 1800 UTC September 22, Hurricane Newton made landfall just east of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. After emerging into the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
, the storm reached its peak wind speed of 85 mph (136.8 km/h) about 60 mi (96.6 km) north of La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
. By 1800 UTC, the hurricane moved ashore near Punta Rosa and quickly dissipated. The remnants of the cyclone moved into New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and then the Central United States
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
until entering the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
from the Mid-Atlantic States
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
late in the month.
Preparations and Impact
The Eastern Pacific Hurricane CenterEastern Pacific Hurricane Center
The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center was formerly the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center responsible for forecasting Pacific hurricanes in the eastern north Pacific east of 140°W...
noted the threat high waves, storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
, and flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing. In addition, the navy, army, and police were on high alert in populated areas such as La Paz
La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
due to the hurricane. While they were no emergencies, moderate rainfall was recorded, with a country-wide peak of 9.23 inches (234.4 mm) in Jopala.
Damage in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
was minor with roofs being ripped off and high winds blowing down trees and utility poles. No injuries or fatalities were reported in association with Newton. Along with a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
over the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, Newton was predicted to cause heavy rains over New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and western Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, so flash flood warnings and watches were issued by the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
for parts of western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. The highest rainfall total was 5.88 inches (149.4 mm) in Edwardsville, Kansas
Edwardsville, Kansas
Edwardsville is a city in Wyandotte County, Kansas, United States and is part of the "Unified Government" which also contains Kansas City, Kansas, most of Bonner Springs, and roughly half of Lake Quivira. The city is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri...
. The rainfall extended as far east as Pennsylvania. Across Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 20,000 customers were without power since heavy rainfall downed power lines.
See also
- Other tropical cyclones named Newton
- Hurricane RoslynHurricane Roslyn (1986)Hurricane Roslyn was the strongest hurricane in the 1986 Pacific hurricane season. The 17th and final named storm of the season, Roslyn developed on October 15 to the south of Mexico. Its movement was initially guided by a ridge to its north, and it became a tropical storm on October 16 and a...
-similar storm - Hurricane PaineHurricane Paine (1986)Hurricane Paine in 1986 contributed to one of the most significant flooding events in Oklahoma history. The 16th tropical storm and 8th hurricane of the 1986 Pacific hurricane season, Paine formed on September 28 off the southeast coast of Mexico. It moved around a ridge, later turning to the north...
-similar storm - 1986 Pacific hurricane season1986 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1986 Pacific hurricane season was less active than the 1985 Pacific hurricane season. It officially started May 15, 1986 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1986 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1986. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when almost...
- List of Pacific hurricanes