Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
Information
Cabo San Lucas weather is beautiful and warm for most of the days of the year. As is common in the tropics, there are storms and hurricanes during the rainy season. Rarely do the storms hit Cabo San Lucas with full force. In fact, Cabo San Lucas is usually only affected by rainfall. A foot or two of rain can fall in a matter of hours. After the rain, the air is clear and smells refreshing and sunny warm weather returns quickly.
Most tropical storms and hurricanes strike Cabo San Lucas during August and September when the ocean waters that fuel the storms reach their warmest temperatures. It is possible, however, for there to be storms from May through November.
Clear blue skies
with warm sunny weather is the norm in Cabo San Lucas
How Storms are Made
Tropical storms and hurricanes that threaten Cabo San Lucas usually form off the west coast of southern Mexico, south of Cabo San Lucas and west of Acapulco, fueled by the warm waters of the eastern pacific. Hurricanes are sustained by ocean waters of 82°F or warmer. As the El Niño effect causes the warm ocean waters to move (further north or further south), tropical storms and hurricanes tend to follow.
The prevailing summer easterly winds carry most storms westward toward Hawaii. But, sometimes a big storm will go to the north, towards Cabo San Lucas.
Direct Hits are Rare
Rarely do hurricanes hit Cabo San Lucas with full force. Usually Cabo San Lucas is on the edge of the storm. Tropical storms can drop a foot or two of rain in a matter of hours. Although some storms may be hundreds of miles away, their powerful winds generate spectacular ocean waves.
Recent Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
Hurricane John, a category 2-3 hurricane,
threatened Cabo San Lucas on Sept. 1, 2006, but later in the day turned
northward, bypassing Los Cabos. It made landfall around 8 pm about 30 miles
north-northeast of San Jose del Cabo. It rained hard all night with moderate
winds, but there was no major damage in Cabo. Among the Cabo resorts,
no guests were injured and no hotels suffered significant damage.
Some stores in Cabo San Lucas re-opened
about 2 hours after the eye of the storm passed, and life got back to normal
quite quickly. The airport re-opened the next morning. Total rainfall was about
4-5 inches.
Tropical storm Emilia left some destruction but no death in her wake on July 24-25, 2006. Emilia brought Los Cabos heavy rain and winds of up to 70 mph, creating potholes and giant puddles in the streets. Cabo’s marina was closed for two days
At the Los Cabos airport, no flights were canceled, and no damage was reported in the tourist corridor between Cabo and San Jose.
In total, about five inches of rain was dumped on Los Cabos.
During the last part of September 2003, Hurricane Marty narrowly missed Cabo San Lucas, but inflicted damage further north in La Paz. In Cabo
San Lucas one man was killed. Electric, phone and water lines were damaged throughout the Los Cabos area.
Otherwise, this category 2 hurricane did not inflict extensive damage to
businesses in Cabo San Lucas. Cleanup required heavy machinery to remove the debris, but structural damage was kept to a minimum.
Hurricane Ignacio passed to the east of Cabo San Lucas the last week of August 2003. After heading north through the Sea of Cortez, it remained near La Paz, north of Cabo San Lucas before dissipating. A relatively small storm, it produced minimal damage – mostly just leaving dirt and debris from the winds and rain.
Hurricane Juliette was the most devastating storm in years. It pounded Cabo San Lucas during the last week of September 2001. Thousands were left homeless, and the area suffered millions of dollars in damage. Resorts suffered mostly minor damage, although tourists were stranded for days before roads and the Los Cabos airport were reopened.
In September 1999, hurricane Greg threatened Cabo San Lucas but then blew itself out before reaching Cabo. Fortunately, Greg was a minimal hurricane and damage from wind and rain was not severe.
The center of tropical storm Isis passed east of Cabo San Lucas in September 1998. It drenched the area with ten to fifteen inches of rainfall overnight. Flooding and landslides damaged roads and buildings. Major power and water lines were knocked out.
Despite the occasional rainstorm, Cabo San Lucas weather remains mostly warm and sunny
1997 saw several hurricanes due to record-warm El Niño waters. Hurricane Guillermo in August was the most powerful storm ever recorded in the eastern Pacific, passing close enough to cause surf damage along the Cabo San Lucas coast. In September,
hurricane Linda developed, the strongest hurricane that has been recorded in northeast Pacific waters. Although it stayed some 300 miles away from Cabo San Lucas, Linda sent some flooding and giant waves to Cabo San Lucas. A week later,
hurricane Nora barely missed Cabo San Lucas passing to the north.
Hurricane Fausto, in September 1996, brought high winds, flooding and property damage to Cabo San Lucas. It crossed the Baja peninsula some 50 to 100 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. Because Fausto was a relatively weak hurricane, serious damage was minimal.
In November 1993, a tropical storm dumped two feet of rain on the Cabo San Lucas area in 24 hours. Severe flooding resulted, washing out major highways and bridges.
For more information on tropical storms and hurricane tracking, ocean temperatures and more, visit the Cabo San Lucas Weather Links page. |
