Hurricane Waldo (1985)

Hurricane Waldo

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Waldo at peak strength
Formed	October 7, 1985
Dissipated	October 9, 1985
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 105 mph (165 km/h)
Lowest pressure	982 mbar (hPa); 29 inHg
Fatalities	1 indirect
Areas affected	Sinaloa, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas
Part of the 1985 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Waldo was a Pacific hurricane that caused significant flooding in Kansas during October 1985. After developing into a tropical depression on October 7, it steadily intensified, becoming a tropical storm within a day. Waldo reached hurricane intensity on October 8. After peaking as a moderate Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, it re-curved to the east, making landfall at peak intensity near Culiacan. Afterward, it rapidly dissipated. In all, Waldo caused moderate damage in Sonora. The remnants of the storm combined with a cold front over the Great Plains. Significant flooding and one death was recorded in Kansas. Many rivers and creeks overflowed its banks.

Waldo originated from a developing disturbance first noted by Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center (EPHC) on October 5 based on data from ship reports. By 0000 UTC October 7, a circulation became evident on satellite imagery. Based on this, the EPHC upgraded the system into a tropical depression about 300 mi (480 km) west of the Mexican coast. Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression began to turn to the northwest in response to a strong upper-level trough over Baja California Peninsula. Passing over 86 °F (30 °C) sea surface temperatures, the tropical cyclone intensified into Tropical Storm Waldo about 12 hours after developing. The storm began to intensify rapidly. Meanwhile, the tropical storm passed 92 mi (148 km) east of Socorro Island. Tropical Storm Waldo then began to turn to the north and while located 130 miles (210 km) south of Baja California Sur, Waldo was upgraded into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.