of the few Pacific hurricanes to kill more than 1,000 people. Meteorological history Hurricane Liza originated from a very large area of intense thunderstorms that developed about southwest of the Mexican coast on September 25. Later that day, satellite imagery indicated that the system had developed a cyclonic circulation. It is estimated that a tropical depression developed at 1800 UTC on September 25, centered about east-northeast of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. The depression gradually intensified as it tracked west-northwestward, and became Tropical Storm Liza at 1800 UTC on the following day. Thereafter, Liza turned to the north at and began to strengthen while moving through sea surface temperatures of . Within 48 hours of the storm's formation, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center (EPHC) reported winds of , and Liza intensified into a hurricane early on September 28. Around this time, the hurricane had developed an eye that was in diameter, though it was initially not visible on satellite imagery. Operationally, however, Liza was not upgraded to a hurricane until 18 hours later. During the afternoon hours of September 28, a Hurricane Hunters aircraft made its first flight into Liza, recording a minimum barometric pressure of ; despite the low pressure, maximum sustained winds of just were reported. Hours later, a second flight into the hurricane revealed winds of and slightly lower pressures. Liza continued to intensify, attaining winds of by early September 29. Later that morning, the hurricane reached Category 2 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS). By midday, Hurricane Hunters recorded a pressure of as the eye became visible on infrared satellite imagery, prompting the EPHC to upgrade Liza to a major hurricane, a Category 3 or higher on the SSHWS. Liza continued to rapidly intensify and attained winds of late on September 29, making it a mid-level Category 4 hurricane. Though Liza encountered warm sea surface temperatures of , it did not strengthen further the following day. Late on September 30, Liza brushed the Baja California Peninsula, passing about east of Cabo San Lucas while still at peak intensity. Early on October 1, Liza entered the Gulf of California exactly east of La Paz, Baja California Sur. By 1300 UTC that day, Liza made landfall about north of Los Mochis, Sinaloa with winds of , still a Category 3 storm. Operationally, however, Hurricane Liza was estimated to have made landfall with winds of and gusts up to .