Hurricane Joanne (1972)

Hurricane Joanne
Hurricane Joanne on October 2
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 30, 1972
DissipatedOctober 7, 1972
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds100 mph (155 km/h)
Lowest pressure971 mbar (hPa); 28.67 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1 direct, 9 indirect
Damage$10 million (1972 USD)
Areas affectedBaja California, California, Arizona, New Mexico
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Part of the 1972 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Joanne was one of four tropical cyclones to bring gale-force winds to the Southwestern United States in the 20th century. A tropical depression developed on September 30, 1972. It then moved west northwest and intensified into a hurricane on October 1. Hurricane Joanne peaked as a Category 2 hurricane, as measured by the modern Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS), October 2. Joanne then slowed and began to re-curve. Joanne made landfall along the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula as a tropical storm. The tropical storm moved inland over Sonora on October 6 and was believed to have survived into Arizona as a tropical storm. In Arizona, many roads were closed and some water rescues had to be performed due to a prolonged period of heavy rains. One person was reportedly killed while another was electrocuted. A few weeks after the hurricane, Arizona would sustain additional flooding and eight additional deaths.