text: hurricane lane ( 2006 ) hurricane lane was the thirteenth named storm , ninth hurricane , and sixth major hurricane of the 2006 pacific hurricane season . the strongest pacific hurricane to make landfall in mexico since hurricane kenna of 2002 , lane developed on september 13 from a tropical wave to the south of mexico . it moved northwestward , parallel to the coast of mexico , and steadily intensified in an area conducive to further strengthening . after turning to the northeast , lane attained peak winds of 125 mph ( 205 km / h ) , and made landfall in the state of sinaloa at peak strength . it rapidly weakened and dissipated on september 17 , and later brought precipitation to southern part of the u.s. state of texas throughout its path , lane resulted in four deaths and moderate damage . damage was heaviest in sinaloa , where the hurricane made landfall , including reports of severe crop damage . across mexico , an estimated 4 , 320 homes were affected by the hurricane , with about 248 , 000 people affected . moderate flooding was reported in acapulco , resulting in mudslides in some areas . damage across the country totaled $ 2 . 2 billion ( 2006 mxn ) , or $ 206 million ( 2006 usd , or $ 218 million in 2010 usd ) . meteorological history a tropical wave moved off the coast of africa on august 31 , 2006 . it moved westward without development , and entered the eastern pacific ocean on september 10 . an area of convection developed along the wave axis , several hundred miles south of the gulf of tehuantepec . it moved slowly westward and steadily organized . convection and banding features organized around a developing center , and the system developed into tropical depression thirteen - e on september 13 . the system continued to organize and strengthened into tropical storm lane early on september 14 about 90 miles ( 145 km ) off the coast of mexico . based on a potentially developing anticyclone over the storm and a track over warm water temperatures , the statistical hurricane intensity prediction scheme model issued a 46 percent probability for rapid intensification of the storm . lane continued to become better organized , with deep convection developing into a central dense overcast and well - defined outflow in the western half of the storm . late on september 14 , an eyewall began to develop a short distance off the mexican coastline . lane continued to strengthen as it turned more to the north - northwest , a motion caused due to the storm moving around the western periphery of a mid - level ridge over mexico . based on reports from reconnaissance aircraft , lane was upgraded to hurricane status on september 15 about 40 miles ( 65 km ) west - northwest of cabo corrientes , jalisco . subsequently it quickly strengthened , and by six hours after it became a hurricane it attained winds of 105 mph ( 165 km / h ) , a category 2 hurricane on the saffir – simpson scale . later that day , the 10 mile ( 16 km ) wide eye crossed over the islas marías . early on september 16 , lane strengthened into a 115 mph ( 185 km / h ) hurricane just 50 miles ( 85 km ) off the coast of mexico , becoming the sixth major hurricane of the season . hurricane lane continued to organize with its 9 mile ( 14 km ) wide eye surrounded by very deep convection , and the storm strengthened further to reach peak winds of 125 mph ( 205 km / h ) by midday on september 16 . it turned unexpectedly to the northeast , and at 1915 utc on the 16th , hurricane lane made landfall in a sparsely populated region of sinaloa , 20 miles ( 32 km ) southeast of el dorado . this made lane the most intense hurricane to strike mexico since hurricane kenna in the 2002 season . the combination of the mountainous terrain of mexico and increasing west - southwesterly wind shear caused the storm to rapidly weaken , and the storm dissipated on september 17 . the remnants of lane later moved into texas , united states . preparations due to lane 's projected path near the western coast of mexico , authorities closed ports to small boats in the cities of acapulco . just weeks after hurricane john took a similar path through the area , several tourists voluntarily left their vacations to fly home . many residents boarded up buildings and bought hurricane supplies in preparation for the storm . officials also closed schools across the state of guerrero . in all , 40 , 400 tourists were evacuated from the mexican coastline . according to the secretaría de , under which the mexican civil protection service operates , there were 5 . 5 million homes and 21 million people in 21 states threatened by the system in all of mexico . as a result , authorities evacuated about 2 , 000 people to emergency shelters . as lane came closer to the coastline , all the seaports between michoacán and sinaloa were closed , and the servicio meteorológico nacional ( mexico ) ( national meteorological service , in spanish ) warned the general population about the threat of flooding and landslides . when the hurricane made landfall , the government of the state of sinaloa issued a state of emergency for the municipalities of ahome , guasave , angostura , salvador alvarado , culiacán , navolato , elota , san ignacio and mazatlán . the arrival of the hurricane forced the closure of several flights at the general rafael international airport in mazatlán , sinaloa . prior to entering the area , the u.s. national weather service issued a flood watch for large portions of texas due to the remnants of lane . impact in acapulco , the storm produced strong waves and heavy rain , leaving coastal streets with up to 16 inches ( 405 mm ) of water . the heavy rainfall flooded 200 houses and caused a mudslide , resulting in the death of a seven - year - old boy . flooding also occurred at the airport in acapulco , though service was not interrupted . offshore , strong waves capsized a boat , leaving one person missing . heavy rainfall in the port of lázaro cárdenas , michoacán , overflowed a canal , forcing over 500 people to evacuate their homes . 500 acres ( 2 km2 ) of crops were destroyed by lane in michoacán . road and airport damage in colima totaled to about $ 30 million ( 2006 mxn , $ 2 . 7 million 2006 usd ) . in de peña , jalisco , rainfall totaled to 7 . 36 inches ( 187 mm ) . one man died in pueblos unidos after being knocked over by strong winds . throughout jalisco , 109 people had to evacuate their homes due to landslides and heavy rainfall . in el dorado , sinaloa , near where the storm made landfall , the hurricane washed out away roads and destroyed many flimsy homes . strong winds knocked down electricity towers , trees , and traffic signs , leaving many without power . in mazatlán , to the southeast of where lane moved ashore , the hurricane produced strong winds and heavy rains , causing street flooding and power outages . the threat of the hurricane forced the cancellation of an independence day parade . between mazatlán and the state capital , culiacán , the hurricane destroyed a bridge , leaving dozens of trucks stranded . in culiacán , one person died when he drove his car into a river , while several streets were flooded from the storm . throughout sinaloa , several damaged roads left many communities cut off from the rest of the country . lane caused severe agricultural damage in the state , possibly reaching as high as $ 600 million ( 2006 mxn , $ 55 million 2006 usd ) . the hurricane also damaged water treatment facilities and distribution systems in multiple communities , prompting the secretariat of health to declare a sanitary alert in sinaloa . damage in sinaloa totaled to around $ 1 . 2 billion ( 2006 mxn ) , $ 109 . 3 million ( 2006 usd ) . throughout mexico , hurricane lane killed four people . an estimated 4 , 320 homes were affected by the hurricane , with about 248 , 000 people affected . water systems were damaged in nine municipalities , leaving thousands temporarily without water . a total of 19 , 200 miles ( 30 , 000 km ) of roads and highways were damaged to some degree , including some destroyed bridges . in all , the hurricane caused about $ 2 . 2 billion ( 2006 mxn , $ 203 million 2006 usd ) in damage in the country . in the united states , the remnants of lane brought precipitation to southern texas . aftermath by the day after hurricane lane made landfall , most of the evacuated people returned to their homes to begin the cleanup process . some tourists who remained in the area for the storm continued their vacations , while others tried to leave the area . the federal government declared a state of emergency for nine municipalities in sinaloa , allowing emergency funds to give relief support to the affected population . helicopters were used to distribute foods and locate cut - off residents . the government set up three temporary shelters in mazatlán for 360 people and three shelters in culiacán for about 1 , 000 affected residents . to prevent the spread of dengue fever , officials sent epidemiologists to 67 communities , with 18 mobile units and 15 units . by a month after the storm , all roads and highways affected by the hurricane were open for transportation .