1959 Mexico hurricane

Category 4 Pacific hurricane in 1959 February 2012 Hurricane Fifteen Mexico hurricane (Hurricane Fifteen-E) weather map, October 27, 1959.jpg Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on October 27 October 22, 1959 October 28, 1959 120 955 1959 1,800 total(Deadliest East Pacific hurricane) 280000000 ≥ Colima and Jalisco, much of western Mexico 1959 Pacific hurricane season The 1959 Mexico hurricane was the deadliest Pacific hurricane on record. First observed south of Mexico on October 23, the cyclone tracked northwestward. It intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on October 25 and reached Category 4 intensity on the following day. After turning toward the northeast, the hurricane made landfall in Mexico near Manzanillo, Colima, at peak intensity. The system continued on that trajectory before dissipating on the next day. Impact from the hurricane was severe and widespread. Initially forecast to remain offshore, the system curved northeast and moved ashore, becoming one of Mexico's worst natural disasters at the time. Up to 150 boats were submerged. Countless homes in Colima and Jalisco were damaged or destroyed, large portions of the states were inaccessible by flash flooding, and hundreds of residents were stranded. All coconut plantations were blown down during the storm, leaving thousands without work and instating fear that it would take the economy years to recover. Torrential rainfall across mountain terrain contributed to numerous mudslides that caused hundreds of fatalities. In the aftermath of the cyclone, convoys delivering aid were hindered by the destruction. Residents were vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease. Overall, the hurricane inflicted at least $280 million (1959 USD) in damage. Meteorological history 1959 Mexico hurricane track.png On October 22, a low pressure area was present south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, having originated out of an area of disturbed weather in the region the day before. That day, two ships reported gale-force winds, suggesting that a tropical storm formed by 12:00 UTC. Moving west-northwestward parallel to the southwest coast of Mexico, the system steadily intensified, reaching hurricane status by late on October 23. The storm continued to intensify, although there were few ships in the path to record the intensity until October 26. During that time, interpolation of observations suggests that the storm attained major hurricane intensity – a Category 3 on the modern Saffir–Simpson scale – with winds of 115 mph km/h on on October 25.Andrew Hagen Josh Morgerman Erik Sereno Trabaldo Jorge Abelardo González Great Mexico Hurricane of 1959 iCyclone February 2, 2016 http://icyclone.com/upload/now/feb_2016/Reanalysis_of_Great_Mexico_Hurricane_1959_FINAL.pdf On October 26, the hurricane turned abruptly to the northeast toward the Mexican coast. At 00:00 UTC on October 27, a nearby ship recorded winds of 130 km/h mph on, confirming the increase in intensity. Six hours later, another ship recorded winds of 115 mph km/h on. At around 12:00 UTC on October 27, the hurricane made landfall just northwest of Manzanillo, Colima, with an eye 13 mi km on in diameter. The Mary Barbara – a ship in Manzanillo Harbor – estimated winds of 155 mph km/h on, which was the basis for the previous estimated landfall intensity of 160 mph km/h on, which was later determined to be an overestimate.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2007_epa.txt Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949–2007 National Hurricane Center March 4, 2008 March 11, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080822035410/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2007_epa.txt August 22, 2008 dead The same ship reported a minimum barometric pressure of 958 mbar inHg on in the southeastern periphery of the eyewall; this, in conjunction with other nearby readings, suggested a minimum central pressure of 955 mbar inHg on. Based largely on the central pressure, the 2016 reanalysis concluded the hurricane's peak intensity at landfall was 140 mph (220 km/h), based on uncertainties in the wind estimates, the central pressure, as well as the storm's small size and slow movement. The hurricane rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of southwestern Mexico. Within 12 hours of landfall, the system weakened to tropical storm status, and on October 28, the storm dissipated. Impact Thousands of people were unprepared for the storm. Thus, the system was dubbed "a sneak hurricane". After passing well offshore from Acapulco, it was forecast to head out to sea. Instead, it recurved eastward and made landfall. The hurricane had devastating effects on the places it hit. It killed at least 1,000 people directly, and a total of 1,800 people. At that time, it was Mexico's worst natural disaster in recent times.October 30, 1959 May 9, 2008 Scorpions Add To Storm Havoc San Mateo Times http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=48462038_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=9&currentPage=0 PDFSeptember 2016 medicmedic Most of the destruction was in Colima and Jalisco.http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=65656532_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=1&currentPage=0 May 19, 2008 Mexico Fights Threat of Epidemic After Hurricane That Killed 2,000 Ogden Standard-Examiner November 2, 1959 8 PDFSeptember 2016 medicmedic A preliminary estimate of property damage was $280 million (1959 USD).https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/utah/ogden/ogden-standard-examiner/1959/11-01/page-10 Toll Mounts as Mexico Gets Relief November 1, 1959 Ogden Standard-Examiner 1 Associated Press November 9, 2024 The storm sank three merchant ships, and two other vessels.http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=104246353_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=5&currentPage=0 Titusville Herald Toll of Over 1,000 Now Feared in Mexico Hurricane and Floods PDF May 9, 2008 October 30, 1959September 2016 medicmedic On one ship, the Sinaloa,http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=99758651_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=2&currentPage=0 Mexico Hurricane Kills 800 October 31, 1959 29 Pacific Stars and Stripes May 17, 2008September 2016 medicmedic 21 of 38 hands went down.http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=55260698_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0 Charles H. Guptill October 30, 1959 Hurricane Kills 1000 in Mexico Lowell Sun PDF May 9, 2008September 2016 medicmedic On another, the El Caribe, all hands were lost. As many as 150 total boats were sunk. A quarter of the homes in Cihuatlán, Jalisco, were totally destroyed, leaving many homeless.http://www.ejournal.unam.mx/atmosfera/Vol16-4/ATM16401.pdf E. Jáuregui Climatology of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms in Mexico 2003 Atmósfera 201 December 28, 2007 June 14, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060614065451/http://www.ejournal.unam.mx/atmosfera/Vol16-4/ATM16401.pdf In Manzanillo, Colima, 40 percent of all homes were destroyed, and four ships in the harbor were sunk.http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=464622_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=2&currentPage=0 Associated Press Mexico Hit by Killer Hurricane Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune October 29, 1959 March 18, 2008 PDFSeptember 2016 medicmedic Large portions of Colima and Jalisco were isolated by flooding. Hundreds of people were stranded. Minatitlán, Colima, suffered especially, as 800 people out of its population of 1000 were dead or missing, according to a message sent to President Adolfo López Mateos. In Colima, all coconut plantations were blown down and thousands of people were left out of work. That state's economy was damaged enough that officials thought it would take years to recover. The hurricane also dumped heavy rains along its path. This water-logged the hills near Minatitlán, and contributed to the huge mudslide late on October 29 that claimed 800 victims. The slide uncovered hundreds of venomous scorpions and snakes, which killed tens more people in the aftermath. Additional hordes of scorpions were driven from their nests when the adobe walls crumbled away. Governor of Colima Rodolfo Chávez Carrillo and his wife issued a plea for venom inoculations afterwards. In some places, the mud was 10 ft m deep.November 1, 1959 May 9, 2008 1,452 Dead in Hurricane San Antonio Express and News http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=68585115_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0September 2016 medicmedic Water supplies were badly polluted, both by debris and dead bodies. Aftermath In the aftermath, air rescue operations were conducted, but the destruction of roads in the area hindered convoys carrying aid.http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=77862773_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0 Helena Independent Record PDF Toll in Mexico Hurricane Now at 300 Jimmie S. Payne May 9, 2008September 2016 medicmedic Planes also made supply drops, but rescue operations were hindered by broken roads and rails. Survivors were vaccinated against typhoid and tetanus. Part of Manzanillo was placed under quarantine. See also Tropical cyclones Hurricane Madeline (1976) – one of the strongest landfalling Pacific hurricanes Hurricane Patricia – the strongest Pacific hurricane on record, taking a similar path in 2015 References 30em Mexico hurricane Category:Pacific hurricanes in Mexico Hurricane Category:Hurricanes in Colima Category:Hurricanes in Jalisco Category:Category 4 Pacific hurricanes Hurricane