Hurricane Pauline (1968) - Impact, Records, and Naming

Impact, Records, and Naming

Damage totals from Baja California Sur in relation to the hurricane were never received, but light damage was reported in Navojoa. The Pasadena-based newspaper reported that a tourist in Mazatlán at the time had sent a card saying that the hurricane was responsible for cutting off-shore capers. Mexican Navy members in Magdalena Bay reported that while passing over, Pauline had clocked winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Navy report of 115 mph (185 km/h) winds came after another report that the 40-foot (12 m) auxiliary-powered yawl called the Tiare was missing in the same bay. The ship had left Newport Harbor on September 25 with the destination being Puerto Vallarta and was occupied by a family of five people. The last reported sighting of the yawl was off Cedros Island. After the report of the missing yawl was received, the United States Coast Guard engineered a search for the vessel. The search was called off after covering an area of 50,000 sq mi (130,000 km2) with no results. The ship was reported as lost and the five occupants were listed as dead. Despite not finding any sign of the ship, the Coast Guard was praised for the extensive search.

The remnants of Pauline were responsible for scattered showers in an area ranging from southern California to Utah and New Mexico. In Arizona, Tucson, Phoenix, and Gila Bend all reported rain on October 3 even though Pauline was centered 200 mi (320 km) southeast of Douglas. The remnants also caused an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale. The tornado touched down near Glendale and followed an erratic path to the west, injuring three people due to flying glass, one of which was hospitalized due to their injuries, and causing severe damage to two apartment buildings. Automobiles were damaged by falling concrete blocks and various buildings and trailers were also damaged. In total, the tornado was responsible for $50,000 to $500,000 in damages.