Hurricane Kay was a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula as a tropical storm. The twelfth named storm and eighth hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Kay originated from an area of disturbed weather that formed south of southern Mexico. Overall, damage from Kay totaled $10.62 million and it was responsible for five fatalities. Rain from the storm proved beneficial for firefighters battling the Fairview Fire in Southern California.
Meteorological history
On August 29, the National Hurricane Center located two areas of disturbed thunderstorms that had formed south of Mexico. While one of the areas intensified quickly, becoming Tropical Storm Javier, while the other slowly intensified, organizing itself slower than Javier. By September 3, the NHC had given the area a 90% chance of forming. The next day, the area organized itself, strengthening into Tropical Depression Twelve at 05:00. By 11:00 on September 4, the depression had strengthened into Tropical Storm Kay. Kay continued organizing and intensifying, resulting in Kay strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane only one day after becoming a tropical storm. On September 6, the eye of Kay passed over Socorro Island with winds of around . Kay continued intensifying, becoming a Category 2 hurricane as it moved northwestward towards Baja California. As Kay neared landfall in Baja California Sur, Kay stopped intensifying and organization and convection within Kay minimalized itself, resulting in Kay weakening back into a Category 1 hurricane on September 7. The day after weakening into a Category 1 hurricane, Kay made landfall in the western central Baja California peninsula with winds of around . Shortly after landfall, Kay weakened into a tropical storm, before beginning to move northward as it passed by Cedros Island. As Kay moved northward, it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone overnight 9–10, not far southwest from San Diego, California. Kay made a sudden turn southward and began moving south, though by September 11, Kay had completely dissipated after losing its identity.
Preparations and impact
Mexico
From September 4 to 9, Hurricane Kay's expansive rainbands brought rainfall to a cumulative 16 states across Mexico. Precipitation progressed from southern states, such as Oaxaca and Guerrero, to Baja California in the northwest portion of the nation. Maximum daily rainfall totals in Guerrero and Jalisco reached , respectively, on September 4. Rainfall was most significant across the Baja California Peninsula, with three-day totals reaching in Guadeloupe and in Sierra de San Francisco. The majority of these totals fell within 24-hour spans. The storm struck Socorro Island on September 6, bringing of rain that day. In addition to flooding, landslides, and falling trees, the hurricane was also responsible for three deaths in Guerrero. Kay also damaged most of the Baja California peninsula with strong winds and heavy rain, which caused much flooding and mudslides, though there were no reports of injuries. Shortly before the storm hit, over 1,600 people evacuated to shelters according to Baja California Sur state officials. Road and agricultural damage in Baja California Sur exceeded 72 million pesos (US$3.6 million), though again, no injuries were reported.
United States
Moisture associated with Hurricane Kay brought widespread heavy rain, flash floods, and damaging winds to the Southwestern United States. The National Centers for Environmental Information tabulated $7.02 million in damage across four states in relation to the storm with the majority incurred by California. A mudflow in Southern California claimed the life of one person.