1959 Pacific hurricane season
| 1959 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 8, 1959 |
| Last system dissipated | October 29, 1959 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Patsy |
| • Maximum winds | 175 mph (280 km/h) |
| • Lowest pressure | 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 15 |
| Total storms | 15 |
| Hurricanes | 5 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
3 |
| Total fatalities | Unknown |
| Total damage | ~ $280 million (1959 USD) |
| Related articles | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 9 – June 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 25 – June 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1006 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 16 – July 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 977 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 22 – July 25 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1004 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 29 – July 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 1 – August 8 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 952 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 4 – August 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1010 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 19 – August 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1007 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 27 – August 29 |
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| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
The 1959 Pacific hurricane season featured the first Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific basin.
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 Dot, which was a Category 4 and made landfall on Kauai, Hawaii, as a Category 1. Patsy reached 170 miles per hour (270 km/h) winds, but had a pressure higher than Dot. The deadliest storm of the season was Hurricane Fifteen, which made landfall in Mexico at Category 4 and killed 1,800 people.
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.
On June 25, a small tropical storm developed off the coast of Mexico. It attained winds of 50 mph at its peak. It later dissipated on June 27.
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.
The name Clara was assigned from the North Pacific Typhoon name list.
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 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.
Dot was first identified as a strong tropical storm southeast of Hawaiʻi on August 1. The storm was potentially a continuation of a previously unnamed tropical cyclone that was monitored west of the Baja California Peninsula from July 24-27, but was never confirmed due to a lack of ship reports. Dot was quick to intensify, reaching hurricane intensity six hours after naming. By August 3, Dot reached its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds reaching 150 mph (240 km/h). Intensity leveled off afterwards as Dot tracked westward before making a curve towards the northwest on August 5, after which the hurricane weakened at a faster clip. Dot made landfall the next day on Kauai as a minimal hurricane before dissipating west of the Hawaiian Islands on August 8.
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Wikipedia