1959 Mexico Hurricane - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

The fifteenth known tropical cyclone of the 1959 season and twelfth storm in the Eastern North Pacific was first noticed on October 23 while south of Mexico. As it was already a Category 1 hurricane, it had most likely formed somewhat earlier than this date. It took the usual northwesterly track for hurricanes in the eastern Pacific. It steadily intensified, becoming a major hurricane on October 25 and reaching Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale the next day. This was followed by a turn to the northeast. It continued to intensify, and became a Category 5 on October 27. It smashed ashore close to Manzanillo, Colima. Weakened quickly by landfall, it dissipated over central Mexico on October 29.

This hurricane's lowest central pressure is 958 millibars. Its highest windspeed is 160 mph (260 km/h). The official "best track" data set indicates that this velocity was attained after landfall. However, a minor revision corrects this error, making it clear that the hurricane strengthened over water and confirming that the hurricane made landfall with strong winds due to a reading above 155 mph (250 km/h) in Manzanillo. The revision also indicates that the hurricane may have had higher winds than officially recorded.