Hurricane Norman was the most recent tropical system to make landfall in California. The 14th named storm, 11th hurricane, and 6th major hurricane of the 1978 Pacific hurricane season, Norman evolved from a tropical disturbance noted southeast of Acapulco on the afternoon of August 29, 1978. The system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression on August 30. Modest strengthening ensued, and the cyclone became a tropical storm that evening and a hurricane on the evening of August 31 as it turned to the west-northwest. Late on the night of September 1, Norman became a major hurricane with an eye wide, and a nearby ship reported seas of. The center grazed the northeast side of Socorro Island on the afternoon of September 2. Moving over cooler waters west of Baja California, the cyclone slowly weakened. By early on September 4, moisture from the hurricane spread north into California initiating rains in the Golden State. A developing trough to its west caused the initial influx of moisture and Norman's turn to the north as a weakening tropical storm. Eventually turning north-northeast towards southern California, the cyclone did eventually turn north-northeast towards southern California, and the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression as it passed the 30th parallel. Hurricane Norman made landfall in California on September 5, as a minimal tropical depression. The tropical cyclone became a remnant low shortly after California landfall, and the final advisory was issued at 00:00 GMT, on September 6. Over of rain occurred in the Sierra Nevada range. Rare late-summer snowfall was also reported in the higher mountains, killing several hikers.
Meteorological history
This system evolved from a tropical disturbance noted southeast of Acapulco on the afternoon of August 29, 1978. The system moved westward and developed into a tropical depression on August 30. Modest strengthening ensued, and the cyclone became a tropical storm that evening and a hurricane on the evening of August 31 as it turned to the west-northwest. Late on the night of 1 September 1978, Norman became a major hurricane with an eye wide, and a nearby ship reported seas of. The center grazed the northeast side of Socorro Island on the afternoon of 2 September. Moving over cooler waters west of Baja California, the cyclone slowly weakened. By early on September 4, moisture from the hurricane spread north into California initiating rains in the Golden State. A developing trough to its west caused the initial influx of moisture and Norman's turn to the north as a weakening tropical storm. Eventually turning north-northeast towards southern California, the cyclone did eventually turn north-northeast towards southern California, and the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression as it passed the 30th parallel. Hurricane Norman made landfall in California on September 5, as a minimal tropical depression. The tropical cyclone became a remnant low shortly after California landfall, and the final advisory was issued at 00:00 GMT, on September 6. The hurricane's strongest winds came at. These winds occurred on September 3 approximately 900 kilometers off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Hurricane Norman caused an increase in precipitation throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Preparations and impact
A flash flood watch was issued for the mountainous terrain and the desert region from Kern County to the California-Mexico border by the US National Weather Service. A large amount of rain was produced, with over of rain occurred in the Sierra Nevada range at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park. Rainfall was most intense on September 5 and September 6, with amounts exceeding in the mountains of southern California. In addition, Norman produced waves up to high. The extratropical remains of Hurricane Norman also moved into Nevada produced very significant amounts of rainfall in the extreme central to northern portion of the state. Power lines were knocked down, and caused a brief power failure from Santa Barbara to San Diego, reported by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Southern California Edison and the San Diego Gas and Electric. The high winds tossed about ships in local harbors and damaging agricultural crops in Southern California, such as raisin crops, and damage to raisins were extensive throughout Kern, Tulare, and Stanislaus Counties. The rainfall also damaged grapes and other varieties of grapes. Over 126,500 people had to be rescued due to high waves. A, US$1,150,000 cruiser was smashed and destroyed when a surf came ashore at Dana Point. Rare late summer snow was also reported in some areas of the Sierra, and the blizzard killed at least four people, and at least seventeen others were missing. It dumped at least of snow in many hiking areas. The storm also produced surging tides at the Los Angeles Harbor, and swept a 10,000-ton tanker from its moorings. Many search and rescue teams in Inyo County went on a search, and many hikers had to be rescued. At least three hikers that were reported missing in the Italy Lake area had to be rescued. The tropical cyclone had managed to cause US$500 million in damages.
