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1943 Mazatlán hurricane

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1943 Mazatlán hurricane
Location of Mazatlán within Mexico
Formed≤October 8, 1943
DissipatedOctober 9, 1943
Lowest pressure≤ 959 mbar (hPa); 28.32 inHg
FatalitiesAbout 100 total
Damage$4.5 million (1943 USD)
Areas affectedNorthwest Mexico, Southwest United States
Part of the 1925-1949 Pacific hurricane seasons

The 1943 Mazatlán hurricane was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 1943. First observed off the coast of Sinaloa, the hurricane made landfall just south of Mazatlán on October 9 with a pressure of 959 mbar and maximum sustained winds of at least 136 mph (220 km/h). The hurricane destroyed two small towns and half of Mazatlán, killing around 100 people, injuring 102, and leaving over 1,000 homeless. Total damage was estimated at $4.5 million (1943 USD, $56 million 2008 USD). The hurricane was the strongest on record to strike Mazatlán.

Meteorological history

On October 8, a developing tropical cyclone was first observed between the Revillagigedo Islands and Islas Marías. It moved rapidly northeastward as an intense hurricane, with the station at Mazatlán, Sinaloa, reporting a 28 mbar (0.827 inHg) drop in pressure in the 8 hours as the storm approached. At 1530 UTC on October 9, the hurricane made landfall just south of Mazatlán, where a pressure of 958.6 mbar (28.31 inHg) was reported. Also in Mazatlán, an anemometer reported winds of 134 mph (220 km/h) for a period of 15 minutes, before the instrument was blown loose.[1] The hurricane was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the city, and was one of only three major hurricanes to do so; the others were Hurricane Olivia in 1975, which hit the city with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), and a storm in 1957.[2] However, Hurricane Tico in 1983 moved ashore very near the city as a major hurricane.[3]

The storm dropped little precipitation along its path, accruing to about 2 inches (50 mm) after the center moved ashore. As the hurricane continued inland, it rapidly weakened over the Sierra Madre Occidental.[1] It passed into Chihuahua and was predicted to continue into the southern United States,[4] though the remainder of its path is unknown.[1]

Impact and aftermath

Known Pacific hurricanes that have killed at least 100 people
Hurricane Season Fatalities Ref.
"Mexico" 1959 1,800 [5]
Paul 1982 1,625 [6][7][8][9]
Liza 1976 1,263 [10][11][12]
Tara 1961 436 [13]
Pauline 1997 230–400 [14]
Agatha 2010 204 [15][16]
Manuel 2013 169 [17]
Tico 1983 141 [18][19]
Ismael 1995 116 [20]
"Lower California" 1931 110 [21][22]
"Mazatlán" 1943 100 [23]
Lidia 1981 100 [16]

Moving ashore as a powerful hurricane, the storm destroyed two small towns, and also severely damaged the port at Mazatlán.[1] Though the storm was reported to have struck "without warning",[24] most of the residents in the cities that were destroyed were able to reach safety in higher ground.[25] The hurricane destroyed about half of the buildings in Mazatlán, and near the ocean, the combination of strong waves, high winds, and rainfall left many hotels and houses heavily damaged.[24] The storm damaged water systems, leaving people without potable water or sewage systems.[26] In a 50-mile (80 km) portion of the coastline, the storm severely impacted the communication and transportation infrastructure. The airport at Mazatlán sustained damage to its radio tower, and for at least 18 hours, the only communication between the city and the rest of Mexico was through the radio of a plane in the airport.[24] Total damage was estimated at $4.5 million (1943 USD, $56 million 2008 USD).[1]

Several fishing boats were lost during the storm, and at least six fishing casualties were reported.[1] By two days after the storm, the death toll rose to 18;[27] the next day, the Associated Press reported 52 deaths and 102 injuries.[28] Ten days after the storm, military officials reported the death toll rose to 57,[29] and the number of people left homeless by the storm reached over 1,000.[30] Ultimately, the death toll was estimated at around 100.[1]

By 24 hours after the storm, President Manuel Ávila Camacho ordered nurses and doctors on standby, and for military workers in the area to prepare to assist in the aftermath.[24] By five days after the storm, officials had restored power and communications in the area. Around the same time, the president issued an appeal for public donations for storm victims.[31] Within a week, citizens sent large quantities of food, clothing, and medicine to the worst affected areas.[26] The President of Mexico personally visited Mazatlán with other officials, bringing aid in the form of medicine and clothing.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Howard C. Sumner (1944-01-04). "1943 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ R. G. Handlers and S. Brand (June 2001). "Tropical Cyclones Affecting Mazatlan". NRL Monterrey. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  3. ^ Gunther, E. B.; Cross, R. L. (July 1984). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1983" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 112 (7). American Meteorological Society: 1419–20, 1436–37. Bibcode:1984MWRv..112.1419G. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1984)112<1419:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 2009-04-05. {{cite journal}}: More than one of |work= and |journal= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) [dead link]
  4. ^ New York Times (1943-10-13). "Hurricane Heads for U.S.; Reports Indicate New Mexico or Texas Lies in Its Path". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  5. ^ Natural Hazards of North America (Map). National Geographic Society. April 1998.
  6. ^ "More Flood Victims found". The Spokesman-Review. September 28, 1982. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "More flood victims found". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 28, 1982. p. 12. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  8. ^ "Mexico - Disaster Statistics". Prevention Web. 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  9. ^ "24 killed from hurricane". The Hour. October 1, 1982. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "Mexico gives up to try and find storm victims". Bangor Daily News. United Press International. October 6, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  11. ^ "Hurricane Liza rips Mexico". Beaver County Times. United Press International. October 2, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  12. ^ "Historias y Anecdotas de Yavaros". Ecos del mayo (in Spanish). June 14, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  13. ^ "Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1900-present" (PDF). Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. August 1993. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  14. ^ Lawrence, Miles B (November 7, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Pauline October 5 – 10, 1997 (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center.
  15. ^ Beven, John L (January 10, 2011). Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Agatha (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  16. ^ a b Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. "EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database". Université catholique de Louvain.
  17. ^ Steve Jakubowski; Adityam Krovvidi; Adam Podlaha; Steve Bowen. "September 2013 Global Catasrophe Recap" (PDF). Impact Forecasting. AON Benefield. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  18. ^ "Disaster History: Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide, 1900-Present". Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development. 1989. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
  19. ^ "Oklahoma residents clean up in Hurricane's wake". The Evening independent. October 22, 1983. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  20. ^ Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (2006). "Impacto Socioeconómico de los Ciclones Tropicales 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  21. ^ Associated Press (November 17, 1931). "Hurricane Toll Reaches 100 in Mexico Blow". The Evening Independent. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  22. ^ "World News". The Virgin Islands Daily News. September 18, 1931. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  23. ^ Sumber, Howard C (January 4, 1944). "1943 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  24. ^ a b c d United Press International (1943-10-10). "Hurricane Hits Mexico Port of Mazatlán; Damage Heavy". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  25. ^ Associated Press (1943-10-14). "Two Towns Reported Destroyed by Storm". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  26. ^ a b United Press International (1943-10-20). "Rush Aid to Victims of Hurricane at Mazatlan, Mexico". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  27. ^ Associated Press (1943-10-11). "Mexican Hurricane Claims 18 Victims". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  28. ^ Associated Press (1943-10-12). "Hurricane Whips into Southwest". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  29. ^ Associated Press (1943-10-19). "Auto Crushed by Falling Wall in Hurricane". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  30. ^ a b United Press International (1943-10-21). "President Inspects Storm Destruction". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
  31. ^ United Press International (1943-10-14). "Mexico Seeks Storm Relief". Retrieved 2008-09-07. [dead link]
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