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Hurricane Dolores was regarded as the worst
hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
to strike Acapulco since 1938. Developing on June 13, 1974, the system rapidly organized into a tropical storm the next day off the southern coast of Mexico. Over the following day, Dolores developed an eye-like feature and attained hurricane status. With peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), the storm made
landfall Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
near Acapulco. Once onshore, Dolores rapidly dissipated and was last noted on June 17. Across Southwestern Mexico, Hurricane Dolores produced heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding and mudslides. Numerous roads sustained damage, separating communities from surrounding areas. At least 18 people were killed and 32 others were injured by the storm. Additionally, an estimated 173,000 people were affected across the country.


Meteorological history

On June 13, 1974, a tropical disturbance was identified several hundred miles south of Mexico. Tracking westward, rapid
development Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development hell, when a project is stuck in development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting *Development (music), the process thematic material is reshaped * Photograph ...
ensued the following day and the system was classified a tropical depression around 12  UTC. Shortly thereafter, satellite intensity estimates indicated further strengthening and the storm was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dolores. Development temporarily slowed on June 15 as the structure gradually organized. Enhanced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a band of deep
convection Convection is single or multiphase fluid flow that occurs spontaneously due to the combined effects of material property heterogeneity and body forces on a fluid, most commonly density and gravity (see buoyancy). When the cause of the conve ...
wrapped into the storm. A banding eye-feature developed later that day, indicating Dolores to be near hurricane strength. Late on June 15, Dolores' forward motion slowed as it turned almost due north towards the Mexican coastline. Around 00 UTC on June 16, it is estimated that the storm intensified into a hurricane, with sustained winds peaking at 80 mph (130 km/h). Based on satellite imagery, Dolores is also estimated to have attained a
barometric pressure Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, 7 ...
of . Roughly 18 hours later, Dolores made
landfall Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
near Acapulco. Winds in the area were measured up to 77 mph (124 km/h). Once onshore, rapid dissipation ensued and Dolores was last noted early on June 17.


Impact

Regarded as the worst hurricane since 1938, Dolores brought torrential rains and high winds to much of Southwestern Mexico. Along the coast, near where Dolores made landfall, 30 homes were destroyed by winds estimated in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h). Several rivers over-topped their banks, inundating nearby communities. In the low-lying suburbs of Acapulco, nearly 600 people were injured or left homeless. According to the ''Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres'' (National Center for Prevention of Disasters), 18 people were killed in the states of
Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acapulcocopied from article, GuerreroAs of 2020, Guerrero the pop ...
and
Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...
; media reports indicated a higher toll of 22. Estimated losses from the storm exceeded $4 million. Nine people were killed by landslides in rural mountain communities surrounding Acapulco. The Costa Chica Highway, which runs from Acapulco to Pinotepa, sustained major damage and areas surrounding the roadway were declared
disaster area A disaster area is a region or a locale that has been heavily damaged by either natural, technological or social hazards. Disaster areas affect the population living in the community by dramatic increase in expense, loss of energy, food and serv ...
s. Offshore, six people were listed as missing after their trawler, the ''Peregrine'', was caught in the storm. In the storm's wake, the
Mexican Army The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National ...
was deployed in Oaxaca to distribute relief supplies, such as food, medicines, and blankets to an estimated 173,000 people affected by the hurricane.


See also

* Other storms of the same name *
1974 Pacific hurricane season The 1974 Pacific hurricane season featured one of the most active periods of tropical cyclones on record with five storms existing simultaneously. The season officially started May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1 in the central Pa ...
*
1974 Atlantic hurricane season The 1974 Atlantic hurricane season featured Hurricane Fifi, the deadliest Atlantic tropical cyclone since the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally deli ...
* Tropical Storm Carlotta (2018) * Hurricane Agatha (2022)


References


External links


Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones, 1974. Part 1

Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones, 1974. Part 2
{{1974 Pacific hurricane season buttons
Dolores Dolores, Spanish for "pain; grief", most commonly refers to: * Our Lady of Sorrows or La Virgen María de los Dolores * Dolores (given name) Dolores may also refer to: Film * ''Dolores'' (2017 film), an American documentary by Peter Bratt * ' ...
Hurricane Dolores Dolores 1974 Hurricanes in Guerrero Hurricanes in Oaxaca