1941 Pacific hurricane season

Systems

Tropical Storm One

On July 3, a tropical cyclone was spotted, and a pressure of 99.55 kPa was reported. It possibly headed northeast, towards Cape Corrientes, as a tropical cyclone was spotted in that direction on July 6. However, it is possible that these observations were actually of two different tropical cyclones.

Tropical Cyclone Two

A tropical cyclone was spotted on July 15, south of Mexico. The next day, another cyclone was spotted further to the west. On July 18, weather possibly associated with a tropical cyclone was reported south of Cabo San Lucas. It is unknown whether either one of these two latter observations are of the same system as reported on July 15.

Possible Tropical Cyclone Three

On July 21, a possible tropical cyclone was detected.

Tropical Cyclone Four

On August 16, a tropical cyclone formed well off the coast of Mexico. It tracked generally northwest, and dissipated in the central Pacific north-northeast of the Hawaiian Islands on August 24. The lowest pressure reported by a ship was 29.34 inHg.

Hurricane Five

Main article: 1941 Cabo San Lucas hurricane

A tropical storm was first reported on September 8. The storm quickly intensified, becoming a mid-level tropical storm the next day. Subsequently, the storm attained its lowest reported pressure of 1001.4 mbar. It slowly moved northwestward, and entered the Gulf of California. when winds were measured at 85 mph. The hurricane was last observed on September 12.

Strong winds and heavy rain lashed the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula for 48 hours, lasting until late September 12. The wind destroyed poorer sections of La Paz and nearby villages. Two villages, Santiago and Triunfo, were completely destroyed. The torrential rains damaged many highways across the peninsula and left thousands homeless.

The port town of Cabo San Lucas was washed away and mostly destroyed due to flooding Initially following the system, activity among surrounding areas of the village ceased. As of 1966, this tropical cyclone is regarded as one of the worst storms to affect the city. Meanwhile, one of the town's suburbs was forced to relocate 1 mi inland.

Throughout the peninsula, 15 people were killed, and many were injured. According to press reports from Mexico City, the hurricane was considered the worst system to affect the state since the dawn of the 20th century.

Hurricane Six and Seven

A storm was first spotted September 17, and another was reported nearby the next day. These two systems then merged. The combined tropical cyclone subsequently became a very intense hurricane on September 19. That day, a ship passing through the eye reported a rapidly falling pressure that bottomed out at 27.67 inHg. At that time, the low was the strongest hurricane in the basin since 1939 and second strongest ever recorded. The hurricane then weakened, and entered the Gulf of California on September 20, at which point it was lost track of by meteorologists.

Tropical Disturbance Eight

Later in the month, from September 21 to September 24, a tropical disturbance was noted south of the Mexican coast, but failed to develop further.

Tropical Storm Nine

A tropical storm was reported on November 2 and 4. A ship reported a pressure of 100.07 kPa.

Tropical Storm Ten

Another tropical storm was detected on November 3. It was reportedly very small. A ship reported a pressure of 100.44 kPa. This cyclone was unusually close to the equator, at latitude 7°30.

References

References

1. Hurd, Willis. (July 1941). "Weather on the North Pacific Ocean". [[Monthly Weather Review]].
2. Hurd, Willis. (August 1941). "Weather on the North Pacific Ocean". [[Monthly Weather Review]].
3. Williams, Jack. (2005-05-17). "Background: California's tropical storms". [[USA Today]].
4. Hurd, Willis. (September 1941). "Weather on the North Pacific Ocean". [[Monthly Weather Review]].
5. Gothitoi, Niki. (2011). "Moon Baja: Including Cabo San Lucas". Moon Handbooks.
6. (1944). "Desert Plant Life".
7. Zwinger, Ann. (1983). "A desert country near the sea: a natural history of the Cape".
8. "About Cabo San Lucas". Explore around Mexico.
9. (1966). "Explorations of Lower California".
10. Hurd, Willis. (November 1941). "Weather on the North Pacific Ocean". [[Monthly Weather Review]].