Hurricane Waldo (1985)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Waldo was a Pacific hurricane
that caused significant flooding in Kansas
during October 1985. After developing into a tropical depression on October 7, it steadily intensified, becoming a tropical storm within a day. Waldo reached hurricane intensity on October 8. After peaking as a moderate Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, it re-curved to the east, making landfall at peak intensity near Culiacan. Afterword, it rapidly dissipated. In all, Waldo caused moderate damage in Sonora
. The remnants of the storm combined with a cold front
over the Great Plains. Significant flooding and one death was recorded in Kansas. Many rivers and creeks overflowed its banks.
(EPHC) on October 5 based on data from ship reports. By 0000 UTC October 7, a circulation
became evident on satellite imagery
. Based on this, the EPHC upgraded the system into a tropical depression about 300 mi (482.8 km) west of the Mexican coast. Upon becoming a tropical cyclone
, the depression began to turn to the northwest in response to a strong upper-level trough
over Baja California Peninsula
. Passing over 86°F (30°C) sea surface temperatures, the tropical cyclone
intensified into Tropical Storm Waldo about 12 hours after developing. The storm began to intensify rapidly
. Meanwhile, the tropical storm passed 92 mi (148.1 km) east of Socorro Island
. Tropical Storm Waldo then began to turn to the north and while located 130 miles (209.2 km) south of Baja California Sur
, Waldo was upgraded into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
.
After reaching hurricane status the strengthening cyclone attained Category 2 hurricane status on October 9. Shortly thereafter, a ship reported a sea level pressure of 982 mb just outside of the center of circulation
. Meanwhile, Hurricane Waldo reached its peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h). Four hours after Hurricane Waldo's peak, the storm made landfall near Culiacan
. The storm rapidly dissipated during the afternoon of October 9, while the system was located inland over Mexico. The remnants of Waldo merged with a cold front
and produced heavy rain
s across the Great Plains
and Mississippi River
Valley.
, people were evacuated and then granted refuge in shelters. In Los Mochis
, the Mexican Army
was put on standby in the event the Fuerte River
flooded. While no deaths or injuries were reported, much farmland and 600 houses were destroyed. The Juarez River bursts its banks, flooding at least eight neighborhoods in Culiacán
. Telephone service in Los Mochis
, Guarmuchil, and Guasave
was cut when a communications tower was blown over. In Los Mochis, some schools and homes were destroyed and a few trees were uprooted. A total of 10,000 people were left homeless across the state. The peak rainfall total in Mexico
from Waldo was 9.61 inches (244.1 mm) in Jocuixtita/San Igancio; heavy rain was also recorded along southern Baja California Sur
.
In the United States
, heavy rainfall prompted flood watches for most of west Texas
. The National Weather Service
even noted the possibility of 12 in (304.8 mm) of rain
in some areas across the state. Waldo contributed to rain heavy enough to cause some flash flood
ing in the Permian Basin area of Texas. Flood waters rose, leaving motorists stranded. One motorist was stranded for 30 minutes before begin rescued by another car. Odessa, Texas
received about 2 in (50.8 mm) in a four and half hour period. Torrential rainfall was recorded in Texas, but the highest official rainfall total in the United States
was 6.6 in (167.6 mm), recorded in Hobbs, New Mexico
.
With help from a cold front
, Waldo contributed to major flooding in Kansas
that forced many rivers and creeks to overflow their banks. A total of 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) of rain fell in some locations. In the rural town of Raymond
, a 52 year-old man died from a heart attack while moving to higher ground due to rising floodwaters. Approximately 15 people were evacuated from their homes in Easton
due to the overflow of the nearby Stranger Creek. Some of the evacuated resident slept at the nearby senior center for the night where the American Red Cross
delivered items such as blankets, food, and clothes to the victims of the flood. In Kansas City
, Waldo produced 1 ft (30.5 cm) of water on roads, but none of the nearby homes received extensive damage. The Sedgwick County
, the county fire department freed 35 trapped people from rising flood waters, six of which were rescued via helicopter. County workers were forced to use sandbags to prevent the dike along Cowskin creek from breaking. The Salt Creek
overflowed its banks; subsequently, Highway 68
closed in Osage County
. Within six days after the dissipation of Hurricane Waldo, the remnants had produced heavy rainfall as far north as Michigan
with flooding recorded as far north as Iowa
. Waldo's rain were comparable to Atlantic Hurricane Gloria
though the wind speeds were much lower.
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
that caused significant flooding in 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...
during October 1985. After developing into a tropical depression on October 7, it steadily intensified, becoming a tropical storm within a day. Waldo reached hurricane intensity on October 8. After peaking as a moderate Category 2 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...
, it re-curved to the east, making landfall at peak intensity near Culiacan. Afterword, it rapidly dissipated. In all, Waldo caused moderate damage in 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 remnants of the storm 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...
over the Great Plains. Significant flooding and one death was recorded in Kansas. Many rivers and creeks overflowed its banks.
Meteorological history
Waldo originated from a developing disturbance first noted by 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...
(EPHC) on October 5 based on data from ship reports. By 0000 UTC October 7, a circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
became evident on satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
. Based on this, the EPHC upgraded the system into a tropical depression about 300 mi (482.8 km) west of the Mexican coast. Upon becoming a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
, the depression began to turn to the northwest in response to a strong 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...
over 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...
. Passing over 86°F (30°C) sea surface temperatures, the tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
intensified into Tropical Storm Waldo about 12 hours after developing. The storm began to intensify rapidly
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
. Meanwhile, the tropical storm passed 92 mi (148.1 km) east of Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
. Tropical Storm Waldo then began to turn to the north and while located 130 miles (209.2 km) south of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
, Waldo was upgraded into 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 reaching hurricane status the strengthening cyclone attained Category 2 hurricane status on October 9. Shortly thereafter, a ship reported a sea level pressure of 982 mb just outside of the center of circulation
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...
. Meanwhile, Hurricane Waldo reached its peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h). Four hours after Hurricane Waldo's peak, the storm made landfall near Culiacan
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
. The storm rapidly dissipated during the afternoon of October 9, while the system was located inland over Mexico. The remnants of Waldo merged 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...
and produced heavy rain
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is an interactive drama psychological thriller video game created by Quantic Dream exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game is written and directed by Quantic Dream's founder and CEO David Cage....
s across 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...
and 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...
Valley.
Preparations and impact
In parts of SinaloaSinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, people were evacuated and then granted refuge in shelters. In Los Mochis
Los Mochis
Los Mochis is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2010 census, the population was 256,613, which was 61 percent of the municipality's population....
, the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
was put on standby in the event the Fuerte River
Fuerte River
The Fuerte River is a river in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa. It begins at the junction of the Verde and Urique rivers, on the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. It flows generally southwest for a distance of 290 km, emptying into the Gulf of California at Lechuguilla Island,...
flooded. While no deaths or injuries were reported, much farmland and 600 houses were destroyed. The Juarez River bursts its banks, flooding at least eight neighborhoods in Culiacán
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
. Telephone service in Los Mochis
Los Mochis
Los Mochis is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2010 census, the population was 256,613, which was 61 percent of the municipality's population....
, Guarmuchil, and Guasave
Guasave
Guasave is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It is located in the northwestern part of the state, southeast of the city of Los Mochis. It stands at ....
was cut when a communications tower was blown over. In Los Mochis, some schools and homes were destroyed and a few trees were uprooted. A total of 10,000 people were left homeless across the state. The peak rainfall total 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...
from Waldo was 9.61 inches (244.1 mm) in Jocuixtita/San Igancio; heavy rain was also recorded along southern Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, heavy rainfall prompted flood watches for most of west 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...
. 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...
even noted the possibility of 12 in (304.8 mm) of rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
in some areas across the state. Waldo contributed to rain heavy enough to cause some flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
ing in the Permian Basin area of Texas. Flood waters rose, leaving motorists stranded. One motorist was stranded for 30 minutes before begin rescued by another car. Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
received about 2 in (50.8 mm) in a four and half hour period. Torrential rainfall was recorded in Texas, but the highest official rainfall total in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was 6.6 in (167.6 mm), recorded in Hobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 28,657 at the 2000 census.Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lea County.-Geography:...
.
With help from 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...
, Waldo contributed to major flooding in 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...
that forced many rivers and creeks to overflow their banks. A total of 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) of rain fell in some locations. In the rural town of Raymond
Raymond, Kansas
Raymond is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. It is named after Emmons Raymond, former Director of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 79.-History:...
, a 52 year-old man died from a heart attack while moving to higher ground due to rising floodwaters. Approximately 15 people were evacuated from their homes in Easton
Easton, Kansas
Easton is a city in Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States. The population was 362 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Easton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
due to the overflow of the nearby Stranger Creek. Some of the evacuated resident slept at the nearby senior center for the night where the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
delivered items such as blankets, food, and clothes to the victims of the flood. In Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
, Waldo produced 1 ft (30.5 cm) of water on roads, but none of the nearby homes received extensive damage. The Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County, Kansas
Sedgwick County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 498,365 for the 2010 census. The largest city and county seat is Wichita. The county was named after General John Sedgwick...
, the county fire department freed 35 trapped people from rising flood waters, six of which were rescued via helicopter. County workers were forced to use sandbags to prevent the dike along Cowskin creek from breaking. The Salt Creek
Salt Creek
Salt Creek may refer to:Streams*Salt Creek , California*Salt Creek , California*Salt Creek , Illinois*Salt Creek , Illinois...
overflowed its banks; subsequently, Highway 68
K-68 (Kansas highway)
The K-68 is a state highway in Kansas beginning at Missouri Route 2 and passing through Louisburg where it intersects with U.S. Highway 69. Four miles west of Louisburg, K-68 intersects with U.S. 169 and K-7, it also provides an end terminus with K-33 in Franklin County. As K-68 enters Ottawa, it...
closed in Osage County
Osage County, Kansas
Osage County is a county located in east-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16295. Its county seat is Lyndon, and its most populous city is Osage City. The county along with Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, and Wabaunsee counties is...
. Within six days after the dissipation of Hurricane Waldo, the remnants had produced heavy rainfall as far north as Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
with flooding recorded as far north as Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Waldo's rain were comparable to Atlantic Hurricane Gloria
Hurricane Gloria
Hurricane Gloria was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed during the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season and prowled the Atlantic Ocean from September 16 to September 28. Gloria reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale near the Bahamas, but weakened significantly...
though the wind speeds were much lower.
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- Other tropical cyclones named Waldo