A broad area of disturbed weather that included a tropical wave consolidated into a tropical depression on 12 October 2013 about 475 nautical miles south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The system became Tropical Storm Octave six hours later and moved northwest, strengthening to its peak on 13 October. Octave turned northward on 14 October, weakened as wind shear increased and waters cooled, and made landfall on the southern Baja California peninsula on 15 October before degenerating into a remnant low and dissipating over Sonora on 16 October.
Octave made a single landfall near Cabo San Lázaro, Mexico, at about 0500 UTC on 15 October 2013. At landfall the storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at 40 knots (about 46 mph), and it was classified as a tropical storm. The system weakened to a tropical depression later that day while crossing the Gulf of California and became a remnant low prior to moving inland over mainland Mexico.
The storm’s maximum intensity occurred around 1800 UTC 13 October, when Octave reached peak sustained winds of 55 knots (63 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 994 mb. It maintained that peak intensity for about 12 hours on 13–14 October before weakening.
Octave produced locally heavy rain, with totals up to about 6 inches across parts of Baja California Sur and Sonora, which caused mainly minor flooding. Observed gusty winds included a 44-knot (sustained) report from Sierra Laguna in Baja California Sur (an elevated site at 6,393 ft) and a 31-knot wind reported by the ship Westerdam just offshore of the southern Baja tip. Tropical storm warnings were issued for coastal areas from Santa Fe to Punta Abreojos.
No deaths were reported in association with Octave, and formal damage estimates were not available. Forecasts anticipated development several days in advance, but official track forecasts had a notable slow bias and larger-than-average track errors for this storm, while intensity forecasts were comparatively accurate.
Paid members can generate summaries tailored to the counties of their choice. The Octave 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 Octave → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10-12 18:00 | TD | 15.00 | -109.10 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2013-10-13 00:00 | TS | 15.60 | -110.00 | 35 | 1003 | |
| 2013-10-13 06:00 | TS | 16.60 | -111.00 | 40 | 1000 | |
| 2013-10-13 12:00 | TS | 17.60 | -112.00 | 45 | 997 | |
| 2013-10-13 18:00 | TS | 18.80 | -112.80 | 55 | 994 | |
| 2013-10-14 00:00 | TS | 20.00 | -113.40 | 55 | 994 | |
| 2013-10-14 06:00 | TS | 21.20 | -113.90 | 55 | 994 | |
| 2013-10-14 12:00 | TS | 22.40 | -113.80 | 50 | 997 | |
| 2013-10-14 18:00 | TS | 23.60 | -113.40 | 45 | 999 | |
| 2013-10-15 00:00 | TS | 24.50 | -112.80 | 40 | 1002 | |
| 2013-10-15 05:00 | TS | 25.00 | -112.20 | 40 | 1002 | Landfall |
| 2013-10-15 06:00 | TS | 25.10 | -112.00 | 40 | 1002 | |
| 2013-10-15 12:00 | TD | 25.80 | -111.00 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2013-10-15 18:00 | LO | 26.50 | -109.70 | 20 | 1008 | |
| 2013-10-16 00:00 | LO | 27.10 | -108.80 | 15 | 1009 |
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.