Tropical Storm Agatha (1992)

Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On May 26, a tropical wave—or a quasi-equatorward area of low pressure—moved off the Central American coast into the east Pacific. Over the subsequent days the system produced a broad area of convection, which began to show signs of organization on May 29.[1] Early on June 1, the disturbance became better defined,[2] and shortly thereafter the National Hurricane Center (NHC) classified it as a tropical depression while located 460 mi (740 km) southwest of Acapulco.[1] At the time, the depression maintained good outflow aloft; it was forecast to strengthen into a minimal hurricane after three days.[2] Based on a combination of ship data and Dvorak intensity estimates, the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Agatha on June 2.[3]

For the first two days of its duration, Agatha steered toward the north while embedded within a deep southerly flow.[1] Steady intensification continued, and the storm reached winds of 50 mph (90 km/h) six hours after being upgraded as it neared the coast of Mexico.[4] By the afternoon of June 2, the center exhibited an elongated appearance within its associated central dense overcast, a large area of organized mid-tropospheric convection.[5] Around 1800 UTC that same day, the storm peaked in intensity with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mbar (hPa; 29.23 inHg).[6]

Maintaining its peak intensity for 30 hours, Agatha gradually decelerated as it passed within 100 mi (160 km) southwest of the Mexican coast.[1] Although specialists at the NHC had anticipated a Category 1-hurricane landfall on the territory,[7] the storm defied predictions and stayed at sea.[6] The center of the storm promptly became ill-defined on infrared satellite imagery, simultaneously recurving to the west.[8] Agatha continued to degenerate quickly into the morning of June 4, with a ragged appearance observed on satellite imagery.[9] By 0600 UTC June 5, the storm was downgraded back into tropical depression status prior to dissipating the next day.[1]

Tropical Storm Agatha off Mexico on June 2

On June 2, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center anticipated Agatha to make landfall in Mexico near hurricane strength. In light of this, a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were issued for the Pacific coast of Mexico between Tenexpa to Cabo Corrites around 2100 UTC that day. Additionally, heavy rains from the system prompted concerns over mudslides and flash floods.[7][10] Following Agatha's turn towards the west early on June 3, the watches and warnings were discontinued.[11] Roughly 1,500 people evacuated from coastal areas of Michoacán due to the threat of damaging winds and flooding.[12]

Although the center of Agatha remained offshore, heavy rains within the system's outer rainbands impacted southwestern and central Mexico.[4] Widespread flooding and mudslides killed ten people and left thousands homeless.[13] Along the coast, waves reportedly reached heights of 16 ft (4.9 m).[14][15]

• Other storms with the same name
• 1992 Pacific hurricane season