Hautter

Saffir Who?

In Baja Sur, which is part of the Eastern Pacific storm zone, hurricanes are measured by meteorologists in categories ranging from 1 (mildest) through 5 (strongest).

You’ll often hear an approaching storm described by its category number, and this measurement is based on a scale called the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The name’s not important, but the numbers are; any reputable news report on a hurricane will spend a lot of time talking about what “category” it falls into.

But you’ll also hear about hurricanes becoming tropical storms, and tropical storms becoming tropical depressions. In Los Cabos, it’s exceedingly rare for a hurricane to hit directly. We get lots of “near misses,” with a few inches of rain and wind, and the whole experience can end in the space of a few hours. And those hurricanes that have made landfall in Baja Sur have mostly been mild, certainly more so than the Eastern Coast of Mexico or the Eastern and Gulf Coasts of the United States. In Baja Sur, we have it easy all year, even during storm season. Lucky us!

What’s more, the local response in Los Cabos, Baja Sur, Mexico is the opposite of what you might expect. For example, surfers turn out in droves when a storm’s afoot, looking for that one killer wave. Tourists and locals actually go to the beach to watch the spectacular show (especially in Los Cabos, where storm-strength wind and rain are rare sights). The show on the water, where waves get dramatic even when a storm is still hundreds of miles away, is definitely the fun part.

Still, it’s important to know if and when danger is nearby. So here’s a breakdown of storm facts and measurements to help you understand what you’re in for, and whether it’s time to hit the beach or head to higher ground.

Storm Talk, De-Mystified

The storms we do experience in Baja Sur usually form off of southern Mexico’s west coast, out in the warm eastern Pacific Ocean, late in summer. Technically, the storm season in this region starts in May, but most storms wait around until August or September to strike anywhere near Baja Sur.

Most of those storms forming on the Pacific never reach us. Instead, they blow west toward the Hawaiian islands. But every few years, a storm gathers enough force to head north toward the Baja peninsula, if water temperature, winds and other environmental conditions are exactly, precisely right.

When a storm moves, it either gains or loses power and speed, depending on conditions. At their weakest, these storm systems are known as tropical depressions; at their most fierce, they become category 5 hurricanes. The latter is exceedingly rare in Los Cabos, but it’s better to know the lingo, just in case!

• Tropical Storm: Wind speeds go from 0 to 38 miles an hour, and there are no ocean storm surges. In other words, hold onto your baseball cap, but don’t change reservations for that beachfront villa.
• Tropical Storm: Expect some wind and water. These are the best storms to watch for in Baja Sur—just enough storminess for a proper hurricane party (link) and extra-green golf course grass, but not enough danger to keep hardcore surfers out of the swirling water.
• Category 1 Hurricane: Wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph are enough to shake your palapa and do some damage to small homes or cars. Watch out for roof tiles blowing in the wind and a broken cactus or two.
• Category 2 Hurricane: If a Category 2 storm is headed your way, it’s high time to prepare (link) your property for strong winds and plenty of rainfall. If you’re driving, be very, very careful; a Category 2 storm’s 96-110 mph winds are strong enough to blow the RV over and uproot stop signs, making four way stops more of a predicament then usual. Beware downed cardon cacti and flooded streets!
• Category 3 Hurricane: This is a major league storm! Prepare your property, buy groceries, and hunker down. Dogs, cats, cows, spare furniture and vehicles are liable to float away—or get sucked up into a wind gust and blown right back in the house, much worse for wear. Be very, very careful, and get to a safe space to ride out the bad weather.
• Category 4 Hurricane: Stay away from the gas stations. Those Pemex awnings get peeled right out of the ground by 131-155 mph wind gusts, and small buildings and coastal properties can be irreparably damaged. Going outdoors is a no—that means you too, surfers.
• Category 5 Hurricane: Time to get out of town—really! While a storm that strong is practically unheard of in Baja Sur, a Category 5 storm can be epic in terms of damage and distress. Forget about your boat’s moorings—unless it’s the Titanic, the boat’s in trouble, and so is your house, car, and favorite golf course.

It is important to note that Southern Baja's hurricanes are fairly mild. The majority of storms that do make landfall are just tropical storms, and they typically fall into category 1-2. In fact, since 1950, there have only been six category 3 or higher storms, and not a single category 5 hurricane has been recorded here in the past 60 years. Tourists on the Eastern coast of Mexico usually have more to be worried about during the wet season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared. Plus, who wants to miss out on a good hurricane party opportunity? To find out more, visit these links and stay up-to-date on the latest storm reports:

Links to more information on the Internet

Tracking storms in the Eastern Pacific
All about hurricanes
Watch storms live