 Hurricane Tara , also known as Cyclone Tara , was one of the deadliest Pacific hurricanes on record . The final tropical cyclone of the 1961 Pacific hurricane season , Tara formed on November 10 about 230 mi ( 365 km ) off the coast of Mexico . It strengthened to reach maximum sustained winds of 85 mph ( 140 km / h ) before making landfall in the Mexican state of Guerrero near Zihuatanejo . Hurricane Tara dissipated on November 12 , bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to locations inundated by 10 days of precipitation . Damage was light in the major port city of Acapulco , though further west along the coast , the effects of Tara were much worse . The city of Nuxco in Tecpán de Galeana municipality received the most damage and deaths from the hurricane . Throughout Mexico , at least 436 fatalities were reported , and damage exceeded $ 16 million ( 1961 USD , $ 115 million 2009 USD ) . 
