Hurricane Diana (1990)

Hurricane Diana

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Diana approaching landfall in Mexico.
Formed	August 4, 1990
Dissipated	August 9, 1990
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 100 mph (155 km/h)
Lowest pressure	980 mbar (hPa); 28.94 inHg
Fatalities	139 total
Damage	$90.7 million (1990 USD)
Areas affected	Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Mainland Mexico
Part of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season, 1990 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Diana was the deadliest tropical cyclone during the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season, killing 139 people in Mexico. Forming out of a tropical wave on August 4, the system brushed Honduras before intensifying into a tropical storm the following day. Gradually gaining strength, Diana struck the Yucatán Peninsula with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). Due land interaction, the cyclone weakened slightly before moving over the warm waters of the Bay of Campeche on August 6. Once over water, the Diana quickly became a hurricane and later reached its peak intensity on August 7 as a Category 2 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Shortly thereafter, the storm made landfall near Tampico, Tamaulipas with winds of 100 mph (165 km/h). Rapid weakening ensued once the storm moved over the high terrain of Mexico and Diana diminished to a tropical depression roughly 24 hours after moving onshore. The cyclone later emerged into the Gulf of California on August 9 before dissipating, though its remnants were monitored until August 14 when the system lost its identity over Arizona.

Throughout Mexico, Hurricane Diana produced torrential rains that triggered deadly flooding and landslides. Roughly 155 mi² (400 km²) of farmland was destroyed and 30,000 people were left homeless by the storm. Numerous roads and railways were either washed out or blocked by debris, cutting communication with several communities. In all, 139 people were killed in the country and $90 million (1990 USD) was wrought in damage. Due to the extensive loss of life and damage caused by the storm, the name Diana was retired the following year and replaced with Dolly, which was used for the first time in the 1996 season.