Hurricane Agatha

This article is about the 2022 Pacific hurricane. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Agatha.

Hurricane Agatha
Agatha at peak intensity nearing landfall in Oaxaca on May 30
Meteorological history
FormedMay 28, 2022
Remnant lowMay 31, 2022
DissipatedJune 1, 2022
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure964 mbar (hPa); 28.47 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities9
Missing6
Damage$50 million (2022 USD)
Areas affectedSouthern Mexico
IBTrACS / [1]
Part of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Agatha was the strongest hurricane to make landfall along the Pacific coast of Mexico in the month of May since records began in 1949.[2] The first named storm and the first hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Agatha originated from a surface trough south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. It steadily organized into a tropical depression early on May 28 and within hours intensified into Tropical Storm Agatha. Amid favorable environmental conditions, the cyclone underwent rapid intensification on May 29, strengthening into a Category 2 hurricane and reaching peak winds of 110 mph (180 km/h). Though the storm moved west-northwest early on, it curved toward the northeast in response to weakening high pressure over Mexico. On the afternoon of May 30, the hurricane made landfall just west of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca, with slightly weaker winds of 105 mph (169 km/h).

Agatha weakened rapidly as it moved inland, and soon dissipated. Heavy rain brought by the storm triggered landslides and flash flooding, killing at least 9 and left 6 missing in Oaxaca.[3] Aon estimated that total losses reached at least $50 million (2022 USD), with the National Hurricane Center later saying, “no monetary damage figures are currently available.”[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference AgathaTRC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Samenow, Jason (May 30, 2022). "Agatha strikes Mexico as its strongest May hurricane". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference downto9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference AON was invoked but never defined (see the help page).