Hurricane Emmy (1976)
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
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Hurricane Emmy near peak intensity
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| Formed | August 20, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 4, 1976 |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 105 mph (165 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 974 mbar (hPa); 28.76 inHg |
| Fatalities | 68 indirect |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Azores |
| Part of the 1976 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Emmy was the longest-lived hurricane of the 1976 Atlantic hurricane season. The fifth tropical cyclone and the third hurricane of the season, Emmy developed from a tropical wave on August 20 to the east of the Lesser Antilles. After changing its direction three times over several days, during which it reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (170 km/h), it turned to the east and slowly weakened. Emmy passed through the Azores on September 3, and a day later it was absorbed by approaching Hurricane Frances.
Emmy passed within 135 miles (215 km) of the Lesser Antilles, though only minor effects were experienced. No damage was reported in the Azores, though strong winds from the hurricane caused a Venezuelan air force flight to crash near Lajes Field, killing all 68 aboard.
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa between August 15 and August 16. The wave moved westward at 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 km/h), and developed atmospheric convection along the wave axis. It slowly organized, developing a low-level circulation, and formed into a tropical depression on August 20 while located about 775 miles (1,250 km) east of Barbados. A reconnaissance aircraft flight into the system on August 21 confirmed the existence of a depression, which reported winds of only 23 mph (37 km/h) with a pressure of 1,012 mbar. The depression slowly strengthened and organized, and after turning to the west-northwest, it intensified into Tropical Storm Emmy on August 22 while located 370 miles (600 km) east-northeast of Guadeloupe. The tropical wave from which Emmy developed from continued westward through the Caribbean Sea and ultimately developed into Tropical Storm Joanna in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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