Hurricane Virgil (1992)
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
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Hurricane Virgil at peak intensity on October 3
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| Formed | October 1, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 5, 1992 |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 130 mph (215 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 948 mbar (hPa); 27.99 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Southwestern Mexico |
| Part of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Virgil was a late season hurricane of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season that struck southwestern Mexico in October 1992. Forming from a tropical wave that left Africa on September 13, it slowly developed into a tropical depression. It soon strengthened into Tropical Storm Virgil, and rapidly intensified into a hurricane on October 2. Continuing to intensify, the hurricane attained major hurricane strength, and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane off the coast of Mexico. Shortly before landfall, it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, and it dissipated on October 5. Damage was generally minimal, though one person was reported missing.
Virgil originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on September 13, 1992, beginning a westward course through the Atlantic and Caribbean without much development, although there was an increase convection near the Lesser Antilles on the September 20. However, this was disorganized and suppressed by an upper-level trough during the wave's passage through the Caribbean Sea. The wave crossed over Panama on September 25, and convection began to increase when it reached the Eastern Pacific, although it was initially disorganized. The system later became better organized, and on October 1, the wave organized into a tropical depression. Shortly thereafter, it was upgraded to a tropical storm and was named Virgil.
Upon becoming a tropical storm, the system was expect to move near the coast of Mexico, and forecasters noted that there was some potential for a landfall. The system became a little better organized and over warm water and low wind shear Virgil steadily intensified. Virgil was upgraded to a hurricane the next day; an eye formed an hour later. During the period of strengthening, Virgil turned more towards the north. Continued strengthening occurred, and it attained major hurricane status on September 2. At this time, the system was anticipated to make landfall in Mexico as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm had maximum winds of 130 mph (215 km/h), but shortly thereafter the storm began to weaken.
By 0900 UTC October 2, the eye started to become less defined. Based on this, the storm was downgraded into a category 3 hurricane. Although an eye was no longer visible on satellite imagery, the storms had displayed very deep convection, thus the NHC initially maintained the intensity at 120 mph (195 km/h). Virgil's eye continued to become less defined, and was downgraded to Category 2 intensity at the time of landfall on October 4. It rapidly weakened over land, and was a dissipating tropical depression by the time it moved offshore.
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Wikipedia