1943 Mazatlán hurricane
Surface analysis of the hurricane near landfall | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | ≤8 October 1943 |
| Dissipated | 9 October 1943 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS) | |
| Highest winds | ≥135 mph (≥215 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | ≤958.6 mbar (hPa); ≤28.31 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | at least 100 |
| Damage | $4.5 million |
| Areas affected | southern coastal Sinaloa |
Part of the 1942–48 Pacific hurricane seasons | |
The 1943 Mazatlán hurricane was a powerful Pacific hurricane that struck the Mexican state of Sinaloa in October 1943. It originated off the Pacific coast of Mexico and became an intense hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of at least 136 miles per hour (219 km/h), equivalent to a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The hurricane made landfall just south of Mazatlán on October 9, becoming the strongest on record to strike the city. An observatory in the city recorded a minimum pressure of 958.6 millibars (28.31 inHg).
The hurricane severely damaged a 50 mi (80 km) portion of western Mexico, from Nayarit to Sinaloa. In Mazatlán, the communications severed due to the strong winds, and the city briefly relied on a single Pan Am plane that was carrying American filmmaker Walt Disney. The hurricane killed at least 100 people and left over 1,000 homeless. Total damage was estimated at $4.5 million (1943 USD).