Hurricane Patricia was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere in terms of barometric pressure, and the strongest globally in terms of reliably measured maximum sustained winds. Originating from a sprawling disturbance near the Gulf of Tehuantepec in mid-October 2015, Patricia was first classified a tropical depression on October 20. Initial development was slow, with only modest strengthening within the first day of its classification. The system later became a tropical storm and was named Patricia, the twenty-fourth named storm of the annual hurricane season. Exceptional environmental conditions fueled explosive intensification on October 22. A well-defined eye developed within an intense central dense overcast and Patricia grew from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours—a near-record pace. Early on October 23, Hurricane Hunters revealed the storm to have acquired record maximum sustained winds of 200 mph (325 km/h); a subsequent recon mission found a record low pressure of 879 mbar (hPa; 25.96 inHg).
Late on October 23, Patricia made landfall in a significantly weakened state, though still at Category 5 intensity, nearCuixmala, Jalisco. It became only the second Pacific hurricane on record to make landfall at this intensity, after the 1959 Mexico hurricane. Interaction with the mountainous terrain of Mexico induced dramatic weakening, faster than the storm intensified. Within 24 hours of moving ashore, Patricia degraded into a tropical depression and dissipated soon thereafter late on October 24.
The precursor to Patricia produced widespread flooding rains in Central America. Hundreds of thousands of people were directly affected by the storm, mostly in Guatemala. At least six fatalities were attributed to the event: four in El Salvador, one in Guatemala, and one in Nicaragua. Torrential rains extended into southeastern Mexico, with areas ofQuintana Roo and Veracruz reporting accumulations in excess of 19.7 in (500 mm). Damage in Chetumal reached 1.4 billion pesos (US$84.1 million).
As a tropical cyclone, Patricia's effects in Mexico were tremendous; however, the affected areas were predominantly rural, mitigating a potential large-scale disaster. Violent winds tore roofs from structures and stripped coastal areas of their vegetation. Preliminary assessments indicate hundreds of homes to be destroyed and seven fatalities are linked to the hurricane, directly or indirectly. Total damage is estimated to be in excess of 5.4 billion pesos (US$323.3 million), with agriculture and infrastructure comprising the majority of losses.
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