1959 Pacific hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1959 Pacific hurricane season featured the first two Category 5 hurricanes ever recorded in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins.
During the season, 15 storms developed, 5 of those became hurricanes, and 3 of those became major hurricanes. The strongest of the storms was Hurricane Patsy, which was a Category 5 but luckily stayed out to sea. Patsy reached 170 miles per hour (273.6 km/h) winds. The deadliest storm of the season was Hurricane Fifteen, which made landfall in Mexico at Category 5 and killed 1,800 people.
an islands as a minimal hurricane, and dissipated on the 8th. Dot caused around $5.5 million in damage.
. This system did not affect land so no deaths or damages were contributed to this tropical storm.
and continued along the state before weakening to a tropical storm, then a tropical depression. It dissipated near the USA-Mexico border.
moved Patsy northeast. A second trough then developed, dominated over the first, and recurved Patsy northeast. It then slowly headed northwards and gradually weakened. It dissipated on September 10. Patsy's erratic path near the dateline was unusual and no known tropical cyclone had taken such a path over the previous ten years, although that of Typhoon June 1958 was somewhat similar.
The National Hurricane Center
's "best track" data set has Patsy exclusively east of the dateline from detection to dissipation. The Japan Meteorological Agency's "best track" does not give windspeeds, only indicating that Patsy was a typhoon
. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's report disagrees on location but also has Patsy's maximum windspeed east of the dateline; the JMA's data does not indicate windspeeds. By reaching Category 5 intensity on September 6, 1959 it is the earliest known Pacific hurricane to reach that intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. Also, its maximum reported windspeed of 150 knots (294 km/h) makes it the central Pacific hurricane with the highest sustained winds; Hurricane John
tied this record in 1994. In addition, Patsy is an uncommon west-to-east crosser of the dateline. Including only systems recognized by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
, that has only happened six times since.
During the season, 15 storms developed, 5 of those became hurricanes, and 3 of those became major hurricanes. The strongest of the storms was Hurricane Patsy, which was a Category 5 but luckily stayed out to sea. Patsy reached 170 miles per hour (273.6 km/h) winds. The deadliest storm of the season was Hurricane Fifteen, which made landfall in Mexico at Category 5 and killed 1,800 people.
Tropical Storm One
A 55 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm was first located on June 9 while west of Mexico. It did not strengthen any further as it paralleled the Mexican coast. It made landfall near Los Mochis, Mexico on June 12 and dissipated shortly afterward. There are no reports of damages or deaths due to the storm.Tropical Storm Two
On June 25, a small tropical storm developed off the coast of Mexico. It attained winds of 45 mph at its peak. It later dissipated on June 27.Tropical Storm Three
After a month of inactivity, a tropical storm formed several thousands of miles south-west of the southern tip of Baja California. This tropical storm began moving north-westwards while keeping its intensity. Winds peaked at 50 mph (85 km/h). On July 19, this tropical storm began moving west and finally dissipated 3 days later.Tropical Storm Four
Soon after Tropical Storm Three dissipated, a new tropical storm formed in the open Pacific. Tropical Storm Four moved west, then west-north-west. Like the previous 2 tropical storms, it did not affect land. It dissipated on July 25.Tropical Storm Five
Tropical Storm Five was a short-lived tropical storm, only lasting a day. It peaked at a relatively weak 45 mph (75 km/h). It moved parallel to the Mexican coast.Hurricane Dot
On August 1, Tropical Storm Dot was first seen southeast of Hawaii. It moved westward, strengthening to a 150 mph (240 km/h) Category 4 hurricane before turning to the northwest. It crossed over the northwestern HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an islands as a minimal hurricane, and dissipated on the 8th. Dot caused around $5.5 million in damage.
Tropical Storm Seven
On August 4, a tropical storm formed at about 26°N, the normal place for tropical cyclone formation. This system gradually moved east and then turned to the west-south-west late on August 5. It dissipated a couple of hours later.Tropical Storm Eight
Tropical Storm Eight formed on August 19, a several hundred miles west of MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. This system did not affect land so no deaths or damages were contributed to this tropical storm.
Tropical Storm Nine
Just days after Tropical Storm Eight dissipated, meteorologists noticed a new tropical system that, once again, was out at sea. Although the storm reached 45 mph winds, it only lasted 2 days.Hurricane Ten
Hurricane Ten formed off the coast of Guatemala as a Category 1 hurricane. It nearly made landfall on September 6. The system turned to the north, then NNW on September 7. It made landfall in Baja California SurBaja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
and continued along the state before weakening to a tropical storm, then a tropical depression. It dissipated near the USA-Mexico border.
Hurricane Patsy
On September 6, reports from aircraft indicated the existence of a tropical storm near the international dateline. Earlier stages were missed because of a lack of data in the isolated area. A troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
moved Patsy northeast. A second trough then developed, dominated over the first, and recurved Patsy northeast. It then slowly headed northwards and gradually weakened. It dissipated on September 10. Patsy's erratic path near the dateline was unusual and no known tropical cyclone had taken such a path over the previous ten years, although that of Typhoon June 1958 was somewhat similar.
The National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
's "best track" data set has Patsy exclusively east of the dateline from detection to dissipation. The Japan Meteorological Agency's "best track" does not give windspeeds, only indicating that Patsy was a typhoon
Pacific typhoon
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the northwest Pacific basin. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern , central , and...
. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's report disagrees on location but also has Patsy's maximum windspeed east of the dateline; the JMA's data does not indicate windspeeds. By reaching Category 5 intensity on September 6, 1959 it is the earliest known Pacific hurricane to reach that intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. Also, its maximum reported windspeed of 150 knots (294 km/h) makes it the central Pacific hurricane with the highest sustained winds; Hurricane John
Hurricane John (1994)
Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...
tied this record in 1994. In addition, Patsy is an uncommon west-to-east crosser of the dateline. Including only systems recognized by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
, that has only happened six times since.
Hurricane Fifteen
The most notable storm this year was the 1959 Mexico Hurricane. It made landfall as a Category 5 and killed at least 1800 people.See also
- List of Pacific hurricane seasons
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- 1959 Atlantic hurricane season1959 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1959 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1959, and lasted until November 15, 1959. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
- 1959 Pacific typhoon season1959 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1959 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1959, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
- Pre-1980 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasonsPre-1980 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasonsThe Pre-1970 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons ran year-round from July 1 to June 30, reaching their peaks mid-February to early March.Pre-1970 1970–75 1975–80 1980–1985-Unnnamed tropical cyclone :The Banda Islands were hit in March...
- Pre-1980 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons