Tropical Storm Agatha

Pacific tropical storm in 2010

Tropical Storm Agatha
Tropical Storm Agatha near peak intensity off the coast of Guatemala on May 29.
Meteorological history
FormedMay 29, 2010
Remnant lowMay 31, 2010
DissipatedJune 1, 2010
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure1001 mbar (hPa); 29.56 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities204
Damage$1.1 billion (2010 USD)
(Fifth-costliest in the East Pacific on record)
Areas affectedSouthwestern Mexico and Central America; especially Guatemala
IBTrACS / [1]

Part of the 2010 Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Storm Agatha was a weak but deadly tropical cyclone that brought widespread floods to much of Central America, and was the deadliest storm in the eastern Pacific tropical cyclone basin since Hurricane Pauline in 1997. The first named storm of the 2010 Pacific hurricane season, Agatha originated from the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a region of thunderstorms across the tropics. It developed into a tropical depression on May 29 and tropical storm later, it was dissipated on May 30, reaching top winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a lowest pressure of 1000 mbar (hPa; 29.53 inHg). It made landfall near the Guatemala–Mexico border on the evening of May 29. Agatha produced torrential rain all across Central America, which resulted in the death of one person in Nicaragua. In Guatemala, 152 people were killed and 100 left missing by landslides. Thirteen deaths also occurred in El Salvador. Agatha soon dissipated over Guatemala. As of June 15, officials in Guatemala have stated that 165 people were killed and 113 others are missing.

In all, Agatha caused at least 204 fatalities, and roughly $1.1 billion in damage throughout Central America.[1][2][3] Despite the catastrophic damage in Mexico, along with a high fatality rate, Agatha was not retired, and therefore was used again in the 2016 season.

Meteorological history

The short track of Agatha towards the Mexico/Guatemala border.
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
circle Tropical cyclone
square Subtropical cyclone
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression