Hurricane Paine (1986)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Paine in 1986 contributed to one of the most significant flood
ing 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 and brushing the Baja California Peninsula
. By that time, Paine had attained peak winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), but it weakened slightly before hitting the Mexican state of Sonora
. The remnant moisture combined with a cold front
to produce heavy rainfall in the south-central United States
.
In Mexico, Paine produced rainfall along much of the coastline, with maxima in inland Oaxaca
, Jalisco
, and Sonora where it moved ashore. Prior to the arrival of the remnants of Paine in the United States, there was an extended period of heavy rainfall, which caused at least 10 deaths, forced thousands of people from their homes, and resulted in heavy flooding damage. The moisture from Paine produced the highest daily rainfall for any station in Oklahoma. Severe river flooding occurred along the Osage
and Arkansas River
s. The overall flooding event caused $350 million in damage, of which half came from crop losses.
through Central America
on September 27. By the next day, it organized into Tropical Depression 27 while located about 185 miles (300 km) southwest of the coast of Guatemala
. With a high pressure system
to its north, the depression moved generally westward at first, although an approaching upper-level trough
influenced a more northerly track. The depression slowly organized while paralleling the Mexican
coastline, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Paine on September 30, while the storm was about 350 miles (565 km) west-southwest of Acapulco
.
Tropical Storm Paine quickly intensified after it was first upgraded to a tropical storm. Late on September 30, a NOAA reconnaissance plane
flew into the storm, one of two cyclones in the basin that warranted aircraft data, the other being Hurricane Newton. The plane observed sustained winds of 82 mph (133 km/h), and as a result, Paine was upgraded to hurricane status. As it neared the Baja California Peninsula
, the hurricane turned more northward, and late on October 1 reached peak winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), while located just offshore of the southern tip of Baja California. Hurricane Paine did not intensify further due to the presence of mid-level wind shear
, as well as insufficient moisture in the air; nevertheless, it was located over an area of 82.9 °F (28.3 °C) water temperatures. The outer eyewall
moved across Cabo San Lucas
, and the resultant land interaction was believed to have slightly weakened the inner core of the hurricane.
After reaching its peak intensity, the hurricane turned north-northeastward, making landfall near San José, Sonora with winds of 90 mph (145 km/h). Paine rapidly dissipated over land, although the remnants continued northeastward across Mexico into Texas
and the south-central United States
. Moisture from the system combined with an advancing cold front
, producing heavy rainfall over Oklahoma
and southeastern Kansas
.
. The highest total in the country was 12.01 inches (30.5 cm) in Apazulco, Jalisco
. Light precipitation fell in the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula
, and where Paine moved ashore, upwards of 7 inches (18 cm) fell across its path. In the area around where it made landfall, strong winds knocked down trees and caused disruptions to city services.
In the south-central United States
, the remnants of Paine dropped moderate to heavy rainfall in regions that already received above normal rainfall. Isolated locations in Texas
, northern Oklahoma
, and southeastern Kansas
received over 10 inches (25.4 cm) of precipitation, and the highest total in the United States was 11.35 inches (28.8 cm) at Fort Scott, Kansas
. Moderate rainfall extended northeastward through Missouri
and Illinois
. In Barnsdall, Oklahoma
, a station recorded 10.42 inches (26.5 cm) on September 29, which was the highest daily precipitation for any station in the state. In combination with previous storms, some locations received over 20 inches of rainfall in an 8 day period, which produced severe river flooding along the Osage
and Arkansas River
s. The flooding resulted in record discharge
rates along many streams and creeks, while many reservoirs were nearly filled to capacity. The Mississippi River
in St. Louis reached the fifth highest flood stage
on record.
Prior to its arrival, flooding across the central United States killed six people, forced thousands of people from their homes, and left at least $76 million in damage (1986 USD
. Additional flooding from Paine exasperated the situation; the flooding affected 52 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma, which resulted in a total of $350 million in damage, half of which from agriculture. The remnants of Paine brought about the end of the extended period of rainfall, which overall had forced 55,000 people from their homes, including 1,200 in East Saint Louis, Illinois where a floodgate broke. It was described as one of the worst floods in Oklahoma history.
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 events in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
history. The 16th tropical storm and 8th hurricane of the 1986 Pacific hurricane season
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...
, Paine formed on September 28 off the southeast coast of 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...
. It moved around a ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
, later turning to the north and brushing the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. By that time, Paine had attained peak winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), but it weakened slightly before hitting the Mexican state of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. The remnant moisture combined 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...
to produce heavy rainfall in the south-central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In Mexico, Paine produced rainfall along much of the coastline, with maxima in inland Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, and Sonora where it moved ashore. Prior to the arrival of the remnants of Paine in the United States, there was an extended period of heavy rainfall, which caused at least 10 deaths, forced thousands of people from their homes, and resulted in heavy flooding damage. The moisture from Paine produced the highest daily rainfall for any station in Oklahoma. Severe river flooding occurred along the Osage
Osage River
The Osage River is a tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri in the United States. The Osage River is one of the larger rivers in Missouri. The river drains a mostly rural area of . The watershed includes an area of east-central Kansas and a large portion of west-central and central...
and Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
s. The overall flooding event caused $350 million in damage, of which half came from crop losses.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Paine were from a system that entered the eastern Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
through 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 27. By the next day, it organized into Tropical Depression 27 while located about 185 miles (300 km) southwest of the coast of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. With a high pressure system
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to its north, the depression moved generally westward at first, although an approaching 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...
influenced a more northerly track. The depression slowly organized while paralleling the Mexican
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...
coastline, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Paine on September 30, while the storm was about 350 miles (565 km) west-southwest of Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
.
Tropical Storm Paine quickly intensified after it was first upgraded to a tropical storm. Late on September 30, a NOAA reconnaissance plane
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
flew into the storm, one of two cyclones in the basin that warranted aircraft data, the other being Hurricane Newton. The plane observed sustained winds of 82 mph (133 km/h), and as a result, Paine was upgraded to hurricane status. As it neared the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
, the hurricane turned more northward, and late on October 1 reached peak winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), while located just offshore of the southern tip of Baja California. Hurricane Paine did not intensify further due to the presence of mid-level wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, as well as insufficient moisture in the air; nevertheless, it was located over an area of 82.9 °F (28.3 °C) water temperatures. The outer eyewall
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
moved across 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 the resultant land interaction was believed to have slightly weakened the inner core of the hurricane.
After reaching its peak intensity, the hurricane turned north-northeastward, making landfall near San José, Sonora with winds of 90 mph (145 km/h). Paine rapidly dissipated over land, although the remnants continued northeastward across Mexico into 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...
and the south-central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Moisture from the system combined with an advancing 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...
, producing heavy rainfall over Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and southeastern Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Impact
As a tropical cyclone, Paine brought rainfall to most of Mexico, including heavier amounts along the coastline and interior northern OaxacaOaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
. The highest total in the country was 12.01 inches (30.5 cm) in Apazulco, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
. Light precipitation fell in the southern portion of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
, and where Paine moved ashore, upwards of 7 inches (18 cm) fell across its path. In the area around where it made landfall, strong winds knocked down trees and caused disruptions to city services.
In the south-central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the remnants of Paine dropped moderate to heavy rainfall in regions that already received above normal rainfall. Isolated locations in 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...
, northern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and southeastern Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
received over 10 inches (25.4 cm) of precipitation, and the highest total in the United States was 11.35 inches (28.8 cm) at Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
. Moderate rainfall extended northeastward through 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...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In Barnsdall, Oklahoma
Barnsdall, Oklahoma
Barnsdall is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded in 1905 and originally named Bigheart, for the Osage Chief James Bigheart. It was initially a 160-acre site along the Midland Valley Railroad in March, 1905...
, a station recorded 10.42 inches (26.5 cm) on September 29, which was the highest daily precipitation for any station in the state. In combination with previous storms, some locations received over 20 inches of rainfall in an 8 day period, which produced severe river flooding along the Osage
Osage River
The Osage River is a tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri in the United States. The Osage River is one of the larger rivers in Missouri. The river drains a mostly rural area of . The watershed includes an area of east-central Kansas and a large portion of west-central and central...
and Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
s. The flooding resulted in record discharge
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
rates along many streams and creeks, while many reservoirs were nearly filled to capacity. The Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in St. Louis reached the fifth highest flood stage
Flood stage
Flood stage is the level at which the surface of a river, creek, or other body of water has risen to a sufficient level to cause damage or affects use of man-made structures...
on record.
Prior to its arrival, flooding across the central United States killed six people, forced thousands of people from their homes, and left at least $76 million in damage (1986 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
. Additional flooding from Paine exasperated the situation; the flooding affected 52 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma, which resulted in a total of $350 million in damage, half of which from agriculture. The remnants of Paine brought about the end of the extended period of rainfall, which overall had forced 55,000 people from their homes, including 1,200 in East Saint Louis, Illinois where a floodgate broke. It was described as one of the worst floods in Oklahoma history.