Hurricane Alma was one of only four Atlantic tropical cyclones to reach hurricane status in the month of May. It developed on May 18, 1970 north of Panama, and rapidly intensified on May 20 to peak winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. It stalled south of Cuba and deteriorated due to wind shear, and by May 22 it weakened to tropical depression status. After progressing northwestward and crossing western Cuba, Alma reorganized in the Gulf of Mexico, although continued shear prevented strengthening. It moved across Florida on May 25, and on May 27 it dissipated off the coast of Virginia.
The storm first brought gusty winds and heavy rainfall to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. While it was weakening, Alma produced flooding in central and eastern Cuba, causing seven deaths and forcing 3,000 people to evacuate. Moderate precipitation spread across Florida, while thunderstorms from the storm caused light damage, killing one. Moisture from the storm spread up the Atlantic coast.
Late on May 17, the US National Hurricane Center, reported that a tropical depression had formed about 470 miles (760 km) to the southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Over the next couple of days, the depression became better organized as it moved towards the northwest; on May 19 it entered an area of favorable environmental conditions, which enabled the depression to rapidly intensify. On May 20 it strengthened into a tropical storm, at which point it was given the name Alma. That day, it rapidly strengthened under favorable developmental conditions, which included low wind shear, strong upper-level outflow, and apparent eastward inflow. Later on May 20, a Navy reconnaissance plane recorded winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), which proved to be the peak intensity of Alma.[1] It became one of only four Atlantic hurricanes on record in the month of May. In January 2022, as part of the ongoing HURDAT Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project, the peak intensity of Alma was downgraded slightly to 75 mph (120 km/h).[2]
Subsequent to its peak intensity, increasing westerly shear disrupted the storm's circulation and thermal pattern, which caused rapid weakening to tropical storm strength and later tropical depression status.[1] By May 22, the low pressure area became poorly defined after stalling south of Cuba; with only a few squalls and showers, advisories were discontinued on Alma.[3] The remnants of Alma continued westward near the Cayman Islands, and later turned to the north, passing over western Cuba.[4]
On May 24, the low pressure area reorganized as spiral rainbands became more evident on radar, and Alma was re-classified as a tropical depression.[5] As the depression approached the Florida coast, radar imagery indicated the system remained well-organized, with a spiral band structure around an eye feature; however, wind shear limited convection and strength, and Alma moved ashore as a depression near Cedar Key on May 25. It turned northeastward and moved across the southeastern United States, becoming extratropical in North Carolina on May 27. After moving off the coast of Virginia, the remnants of Alma were absorbed by an approaching cold front.[4]
Impact
Rainfall map
After Alma weakened from hurricane status, it passed near the Cayman Islands on May 21, where winds of up to 65 mph (105 km/h) were recorded.[6] Gale-force winds and heavy rainfall also occurred in Jamaica.[7] Heavy rains ahead of the storm caused flash flooding in central and eastern Cuba.[4] Seven people died as a result, and several homes were destroyed. The flooding forced the evacuation of 3,000 people in Oriente Province. Inclement weather closed 16 sugar mills, which stalled harvesting that was already behind schedule in the country.[8]
In Florida, the remnants of Alma brought rainfall across most of the state, with some isolated areas experiencing 5 inches (12.70 cm) or more. The highest rainfall from the storm was near Miami, Florida, with 6.66 inches (16.92 cm) of rain.[9] The rainfall was beneficial in alleviating drought conditions,[4] although thunderstorms caused hazardous driving conditions in the Florida Keys and elsewhere in the state.[10] Small craft warnings were posted along the coast.[11] One girl died from lightning in Miami,[12] and a thunderstorm near Fort Myers damaged some roofs and outbuildings.[13] In Saint Petersburg, flooding disrupted phonelines in about 400 households.[14]Merritt Island experienced 45 mph (72 km/h) wind gusts.[15] In Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, Alma dropped moderate rainfall, with some isolated areas receiving up to 3 inches (7.62 cm).[9] Near Columbia, South Carolina, the remnants of Alma spawned a tornado which destroyed a roof.[14]
^ abNational Hurricane Center (1970). "Hurricane Alma Preliminary Report (Page 1)". Retrieved 2009-10-26.
^"Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. September 19, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
^RHS/GBC (1970-05-22). "Tropical Depression Alma advisory". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^ abcdNational Hurricane Center (1970). "Hurricane Alma Preliminary Report (Page 2)". Retrieved 2009-10-26.
^Sugg (1970-05-24). "Tropical Depression Alma bulletin". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Observations from the Cayman Islands". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Hurricane Alma Marie Advisory". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^"Seven Cubans Drown in Floods of Alma". The Miami News. 1970-05-25. p. 6-A. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
^ abNational Hurricane Center (1970). "Hurricane Alma — Rainfall". Retrieved 2009-10-26.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Thunderstorms in the Florida Keys". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^National Weather Service (1970). "Fort Myers Weather Statement". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Deaths from Hurricane Alma". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Wind Damage Reports from Alma". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
^ abSaint Petersburg Times (1970). "Alma Brings an End to the Drought". Retrieved 2010-02-17.
^National Hurricane Center (1970). "Merritt Island Wind Reports". Retrieved 2009-12-26.
December 28, 2022
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This article is about the Atlantic hurricane 1970 For other storms of the same name see Tropical Storm Alma disambiguation Hurricane Alma was one of only four Atlantic tropical cyclones to reach hurricane status in the month of May It developed on May 18 1970 north of Panama and rapidly intensified on May 20 to peak winds of 75 mph 120 km h near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands It stalled south of Cuba and deteriorated due to wind shear and by May 22 it weakened to tropical depression status After progressing northwestward and crossing western Cuba Alma reorganized in the Gulf of Mexico although continued shear prevented strengthening It moved across Florida on May 25 and on May 27 it dissipated off the coast of Virginia Hurricane AlmaCategory 1 hurricane SSHWS NWS Hurricane Alma on May 20FormedMay 18 1970DissipatedMay 27 1970Highest winds1 minute sustained 75 mph 120 km h Lowest pressure993 mbar hPa 29 32 inHgFatalities8 totalAreas affectedCayman Islands Jamaica Cuba Southeast United StatesPart of the 1970 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe storm first brought gusty winds and heavy rainfall to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands While it was weakening Alma produced flooding in central and eastern Cuba causing seven deaths and forcing 3 000 people to evacuate Moderate precipitation spread across Florida while thunderstorms from the storm caused light damage killing one Moisture from the storm spread up the Atlantic coast Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Impact 3 See also 4 ReferencesMeteorological history Edit Map plotting the storm s track and intensity according to the Saffir Simpson scaleMap keySaffir Simpson scale Tropical depression 38 mph 62 km h Tropical storm 39 73 mph 63 118 km h Category 1 74 95 mph 119 153 km h Category 2 96 110 mph 154 177 km h Category 3 111 129 mph 178 208 km h Category 4 130 156 mph 209 251 km h Category 5 157 mph 252 km h Unknown Storm type Tropical cyclone Subtropical cyclone Extratropical cyclone Remnant low Tropical disturbance Monsoon depression Late on May 17 the US National Hurricane Center reported that a tropical depression had formed about 470 miles 760 km to the southeast of Kingston Jamaica Over the next couple of days the depression became better organized as it moved towards the northwest on May 19 it entered an area of favorable environmental conditions which enabled the depression to rapidly intensify On May 20 it strengthened into a tropical storm at which point it was given the name Alma That day it rapidly strengthened under favorable developmental conditions which included low wind shear strong upper level outflow and apparent eastward inflow Later on May 20 a Navy reconnaissance plane recorded winds of 80 mph 130 km h which proved to be the peak intensity of Alma 1 It became one of only four Atlantic hurricanes on record in the month of May In January 2022 as part of the ongoing HURDAT Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project the peak intensity of Alma was downgraded slightly to 75 mph 120 km h 2 Subsequent to its peak intensity increasing westerly shear disrupted the storm s circulation and thermal pattern which caused rapid weakening to tropical storm strength and later tropical depression status 1 By May 22 the low pressure area became poorly defined after stalling south of Cuba with only a few squalls and showers advisories were discontinued on Alma 3 The remnants of Alma continued westward near the Cayman Islands and later turned to the north passing over western Cuba 4 On May 24 the low pressure area reorganized as spiral rainbands became more evident on radar and Alma was re classified as a tropical depression 5 As the depression approached the Florida coast radar imagery indicated the system remained well organized with a spiral band structure around an eye feature however wind shear limited convection and strength and Alma moved ashore as a depression near Cedar Key on May 25 It turned northeastward and moved across the southeastern United States becoming extratropical in North Carolina on May 27 After moving off the coast of Virginia the remnants of Alma were absorbed by an approaching cold front 4 Impact Edit Rainfall map After Alma weakened from hurricane status it passed near the Cayman Islands on May 21 where winds of up to 65 mph 105 km h were recorded 6 Gale force winds and heavy rainfall also occurred in Jamaica 7 Heavy rains ahead of the storm caused flash flooding in central and eastern Cuba 4 Seven people died as a result and several homes were destroyed The flooding forced the evacuation of 3 000 people in Oriente Province Inclement weather closed 16 sugar mills which stalled harvesting that was already behind schedule in the country 8 In Florida the remnants of Alma brought rainfall across most of the state with some isolated areas experiencing 5 inches 12 70 cm or more The highest rainfall from the storm was near Miami Florida with 6 66 inches 16 92 cm of rain 9 The rainfall was beneficial in alleviating drought conditions 4 although thunderstorms caused hazardous driving conditions in the Florida Keys and elsewhere in the state 10 Small craft warnings were posted along the coast 11 One girl died from lightning in Miami 12 and a thunderstorm near Fort Myers damaged some roofs and outbuildings 13 In Saint Petersburg flooding disrupted phonelines in about 400 households 14 Merritt Island experienced 45 mph 72 km h wind gusts 15 In Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Virginia and Maryland Alma dropped moderate rainfall with some isolated areas receiving up to 3 inches 7 62 cm 9 Near Columbia South Carolina the remnants of Alma spawned a tornado which destroyed a roof 14 See also Edit Tropical cyclones portalList of off season Atlantic hurricanes List of tropical cyclones List of Atlantic hurricanes 1970 Atlantic hurricane seasonReferences Edit a b National Hurricane Center 1970 Hurricane Alma Preliminary Report Page 1 Retrieved 2009 10 26 Atlantic hurricane best track HURDAT version 2 Database United States National Hurricane Center September 19 2022 Retrieved December 28 2022 RHS GBC 1970 05 22 Tropical Depression Alma advisory National Hurricane Center Retrieved 2009 12 26 a b c d National Hurricane Center 1970 Hurricane Alma Preliminary Report Page 2 Retrieved 2009 10 26 Sugg 1970 05 24 Tropical Depression Alma bulletin National Hurricane Center Retrieved 2009 12 26 National Hurricane Center 1970 Observations from the Cayman Islands Retrieved 2009 12 26 National Hurricane Center 1970 Hurricane Alma Marie Advisory Retrieved 2009 12 26 Seven Cubans Drown in Floods of Alma The Miami News 1970 05 25 p 6 A Retrieved 2021 09 28 a b National Hurricane Center 1970 Hurricane Alma Rainfall Retrieved 2009 10 26 National Hurricane Center 1970 Thunderstorms in the Florida Keys Retrieved 2009 12 26 National Weather Service 1970 Fort Myers Weather Statement Retrieved 2009 12 26 National Hurricane Center 1970 Deaths from Hurricane Alma Retrieved 2009 12 26 National Hurricane Center 1970 Wind Damage Reports from Alma Retrieved 2009 12 26 a b Saint Petersburg Times 1970 Alma Brings an End to the Drought Retrieved 2010 02 17 National Hurricane Center 1970 Merritt Island Wind Reports Retrieved 2009 12 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hurricane Alma 1970 amp oldid 1067080432, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
