A tropical depression formed about 210 nautical miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas on 20 September 2010 and strengthened to Tropical Storm Georgette later that day. The storm moved generally north-northwestward then northward along the western periphery of a subtropical ridge, crossed the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, entered the Gulf of California, and moved into mainland Mexico before dissipating early on 23 September.
Georgette made its first landfall near San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, around 1800 UTC on 21 September as a tropical storm with 35‑kt (40 mph) winds. After crossing southeastern Baja and weakening to a depression, the center moved into the Gulf of California and made a second landfall near San Carlos (west of Guaymas), Sonora, around 2200 UTC on 22 September as a tropical depression.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 35 kt (40 mph) and the lowest estimated central pressure was about 999–1000 mb, so Georgette’s peak intensity was that of a minimal tropical storm.
Storm surge was minor; no sustained tropical‑storm‑force winds were reported on land. Rainfall totals included 1.02 inches (25.9 mm) at Loreto on the east coast of Baja, several private stations in southern Baja reporting 1.5–2.0 inches (38–50 mm), 1.69 inches (42.9 mm) at Empalme on the mainland, 2.74 inches (69.6 mm) at a private station in San Carlos, and media reports of up to about 4.7 inches (120 mm) near Guaymas. Flooding was reported in Empalme, Etchojoa, Navojoa, Guaymas (Sonora), and Los Mochis (Sinaloa).
No deaths were reported in association with Georgette. The greatest impacts were flooding and evacuations in coastal Sonora and parts of Sinaloa; about 500,000 people were reported evacuated in affected Sonoran communities. No monetary damage estimates were available.
Noteworthy items: the storm’s genesis was not well anticipated because of unfavorable upper‑level winds; the precursor disturbance was first mentioned in forecasts about 42 hours before formation, and forecasts of formation only reached “high” probability after genesis. NHC track and intensity forecasts for Georgette were generally better than recent five‑year means at short ranges, though the small sample size limits broader conclusions.
Paid members can generate summaries tailored to the counties of their choice. The Georgette TCR covers impacts across many counties and states — a Pinellas County resident doesn't need the Asheville detail, and a Buncombe County resident doesn't need the Tampa surge data.
Upgrade for county-specific summariesSummary above produced from the National Hurricane Center's official post-storm Tropical Cyclone Report. Read the full report for casualty lists, damage estimates by area, forecast critique, and detailed meteorological discussion:
📄 Read NHC's full report on Georgette → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-09-20 12:00 | TD | 19.70 | -108.40 | 30 | 1001 | |
| 2010-09-20 18:00 | TS | 20.10 | -108.60 | 35 | 1001 | |
| 2010-09-21 00:00 | TS | 20.80 | -109.00 | 35 | 1000 | |
| 2010-09-21 06:00 | TS | 21.50 | -109.30 | 35 | 1000 | |
| 2010-09-21 12:00 | TS | 22.30 | -109.50 | 35 | 999 | |
| 2010-09-21 18:00 | TS | 23.00 | -109.70 | 35 | 999 | |
| 2010-09-22 00:00 | TD | 24.00 | -110.00 | 30 | 1000 | |
| 2010-09-22 06:00 | TD | 25.10 | -110.40 | 30 | 1000 | |
| 2010-09-22 12:00 | TD | 26.30 | -110.80 | 30 | 1000 | |
| 2010-09-22 18:00 | TD | 27.40 | -111.10 | 30 | 999 | Landfall |
| 2010-09-22 22:00 | TD | 28.00 | -111.10 | 30 | 999 | Landfall |
| 2010-09-23 00:00 | TD | 28.30 | -111.10 | 30 | 1000 |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 best-track database (nhc.noaa.gov/data). Data is in the public domain. Best-track positions and intensities are post-storm reanalysis estimates and may differ from real-time advisories.