hurricane paul hurricane paul particularly deadly destructive pacific hurricane killed total people caused billion damage sixteenth named storm tenth hurricane pacific hurricane season paul developed tropical depression offshore central_america september depression briefly moved inland days later heading westward sea storm changed little strength days september slowly intensified tropical storm days later paul attained hurricane status strengthened category intensity turning northward hurricane accelerated northeast reaching peak winds mph paul landfall baja california sur september subsequently moved ashore mexico day prior making landfall near el_salvador guatemala border tropical depression precursor disturbance dropped heavy rainfall nicaragua later spread el_salvador guatemala rivers region burst banks days rainfall causing severe flooding multiple mudslides central_america people killed fatalities occurring el_salvador guatemala deaths attributed floods depression southern mexico addition paul responsible moderate damage fatalities northwestern mexico landfall hurricane strength meteorological history precursor disturbance paul originated area low barometric pressure disorganized thunderstorms noted near pacific_coast nicaragua september days later satellite imagery indicated developed center cyclonic circulation utc september initiated advisories system classified tropical depression time located west nicaragua supported winds mph depression turned northward response weak steering flow high pressure systems near cabo west central_america moved inland near el_salvador guatemala border dissipated overland influence persistent stationary trough near california remains depression westward open waters pacific advisories system resumed late september tropical cyclone wind circulation poorly defined depression degenerated open trough utc september forward motion remained relatively unchanged days september system reclassified tropical cyclone briefly drifting northward system began tracking west northwest gradually organized tropical storm utc september situated favorable sea surface temperatures paul underwent phase rapid intensification allowed reach category hurricane strength saffir simpson hurricane wind scale days naming hurricane paul turned north continued develop storm neared baja california sur reached category intensity upper level trough forced hurricane accelerate northeast point reached peak wind speeds mph utc september eye hurricane landfall baja california sur moving ashore south near weakening slightly inland paul briefly water subsequently final landfall near winds mph tropical cyclone advisories discontinued shortly exact information storm moved inland unavailable lack data completion hurricane database preparations alert issued mexican states baja california sur army navy units standby case emergency roughly people evacuated storm shelters thousands sought refuge public buildings schools churches officials evacuated families hurricane prone areas towns army officials evacuated coastal residents impact el_salvador tropical depression later paul produced worst natural disaster el_salvador history death toll initially believed lower rose final toll new victims confirmed september deaths occurred capital city sustained worst damage people perished small village located west rescue workers searched rocks mud find missing victims people left homeless submerged flood waters high recession hundreds homes remained buried trees debris mud property damage storm amounted million country economic losses estimated million usd extensive floods swept significant amounts crops causing destruction damage worth million nicaragua guatemala southern mexico guatemala widespread catastrophic floods claimed lives left missing people left homeless wake disaster according highway department storm destroyed bridges left communities isolated surrounding areas overall economic losses million usd reported country nicaragua similar extensive flooding killed people caused million usd economic losses southern mexico floods precursor depression paul killed people baja california sur hurricane paul produced heavy rainfall path baja california sur homes sustained damage telephone lines region height storm wind gusts estimated mph swept causing property damage subsequently leaving homeless despite damage deaths reported wake paul southwest united_states making final landfall paul produced hurricane force winds recorded mph winds demolished numerous homes region leaving residents homeless people isolated greatest damage occurred miles south city houses suffered total destruction roof blown total people killed storm produced beneficial rains region worst flooding occurred near rain fell locations homes damaged agricultural damage severe state percent crop destroyed sugar cane rice crops sustained damage hurricane wake state corn production percent previous year total storm damage mexico amounted billion million usd remnants paul moved united_states producing heavy rainfall southern new_mexico extreme weather observed far inland great plains combination rain snow moved colorado snow expected wyoming winter storm warnings required parts state aftermath aftermath storm government el_salvador criticized failing public informed provided aid declared state emergency additionally state mourning declared program began distributing food set aside victims guatemala provided aid country mexican authorities rushed supply food water homeless
Hurricane Paul (1982)