1959 Mexico hurricane facts for kids
Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on October 27
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 22, 1959 |
| Dissipated | October 28, 1959 |
| Category 4 tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 955 mbar (hPa); 28.20 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1,800 total (Deadliest East Pacific hurricane) |
| Damage | ≥$280 million (1959 USD) |
| Areas affected | Colima and Jalisco, much of western Mexico |
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Part of the 1959 Pacific hurricane season |
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The 1959 Mexico hurricane was the deadliest Pacific hurricane ever recorded. It started forming south of Mexico on October 22, 1959. The storm grew stronger as it moved northwest. By October 25, it became a powerful Category 3 hurricane. The next day, it reached Category 4 strength.
Unexpectedly, the hurricane turned northeast and hit Mexico near Manzanillo, Colima. It was at its strongest when it made landfall. The storm then moved over land and disappeared the next day. This hurricane caused a lot of damage and became one of Mexico's worst natural disasters. Many homes were destroyed, and large areas were flooded. It also caused many deaths.
Contents
How the Hurricane Formed and Moved
The hurricane began as a low-pressure area on October 22. This was south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Ships in the area reported strong winds, showing a tropical storm had formed. The storm moved west-northwest, staying close to Mexico's coast.
It kept getting stronger. By October 23, it was a full hurricane. On October 25, it became a major hurricane. This means it reached Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Its winds were about 115 miles per hour (185 km/h).
The Hurricane's Sudden Turn
On October 26, the hurricane suddenly turned northeast. It started heading straight for the Mexican coast. Early on October 27, a ship reported very strong winds. This confirmed the storm was still getting more powerful.
Around noon on October 27, the hurricane hit land. It made landfall just northwest of Manzanillo, Colima. The storm's eye was about 13 miles (21 km) wide. At landfall, its winds were estimated to be around 140 miles per hour (220 km/h). After hitting the mountains of southwestern Mexico, the hurricane quickly lost strength. It became a tropical storm within 12 hours. By October 28, the storm had completely disappeared.
Impact and Damage in Mexico
| Hurricane | Season | Fatalities | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Mexico" | 1959 | 1,800 | |
| Paul | 1982 | 1,625 | |
| Liza | 1976 | 1,263 | |
| Tara | 1961 | 436 | |
| Pauline | 1997 | 230–400 | |
| Agatha | 2010 | 204 | |
| Manuel | 2013 | 169 | |
| Tico | 1983 | 141 | |
| Ismael | 1995 | 116 | |
| "Lower California" | 1931 | 110 | |
| "Mazatlán" | 1943 | 100 | |
| Lidia | 1981 | 100 |
Many people were not ready for this hurricane. Weather forecasts had predicted it would stay out at sea. But it changed direction and hit the coast instead. This is why some called it "a sneak hurricane."
The hurricane caused terrible damage. It directly killed at least 1,000 people. In total, about 1,800 people died. At the time, it was Mexico's worst natural disaster in recent history. Most of the damage happened in the states of Colima and Jalisco. The total cost of the damage was estimated to be at least $280 million (in 1959 US dollars).
Damage to Ships and Homes
The storm sank three large merchant ships. Two other smaller vessels also went down. On one ship, the Sinaloa, 21 out of 38 crew members were lost. On another, the El Caribe, everyone on board died. Overall, about 150 boats were sunk by the storm.
In Cihuatlán, Jalisco, a quarter of all homes were completely destroyed. This left many people without a place to live. In Manzanillo, Colima, 40 percent of homes were ruined. Four ships in the harbor there also sank. Large parts of Colima and Jalisco were cut off by severe flooding. Hundreds of people were left stranded.
Effects on Communities and Economy
The town of Minatitlán, Colima, was hit especially hard. Out of its 1,000 residents, about 800 were reported dead or missing. This information was sent to the President, Adolfo López Mateos. In Colima, all the coconut plantations were destroyed. This meant thousands of people lost their jobs. Officials believed it would take many years for the state's economy to recover.
The hurricane also brought very heavy rains. These rains soaked the hills near Minatitlán. This led to a huge mudslide on October 29. The mudslide caused about 800 deaths. The mud also uncovered many dangerous scorpions and snakes. These animals then caused more deaths in the days after the storm. The Governor of Colima asked for special medicine to protect people from venomous bites. In some areas, the mud was 10 feet (3 meters) deep. The water supplies were also badly polluted.
Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
After the hurricane, rescue teams started working. Air rescue operations helped people in need. However, many roads were destroyed, which made it hard for aid convoys to reach affected areas. Planes also dropped supplies from the sky.
Survivors were given vaccinations to prevent diseases like typhoid and tetanus. A part of Manzanillo was even put under quarantine to stop the spread of illness.
See also
In Spanish: Huracán de México de 1959 para niños
- Hurricane Madeline (1976) – another strong Pacific hurricane that hit land.
- Hurricane Patricia – the strongest Pacific hurricane ever recorded, which took a similar path in 2015.
- Hurricane Otis – a very powerful Category 5 hurricane that hit similar areas.
