Tropical Storm Marco was the smallest tropical cyclone ever recorded by wind radius

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In October 2008, a tiny but potent storm emerged in the Bay of Campeche. While most tropical cyclones span hundreds of miles, Marco packed its punch into a remarkably compact frame, with tropical storm-force winds extending just 11.5 miles from its center, setting a record that remains unmatched today.

Tropical Storm Marco developed during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season from a broad area of low pressure in the northwestern Caribbean. After a tropical wave interacted with the system on October 4, a circulation center formed over Belize. The storm crossed the Yucatán Peninsula and entered the Bay of Campeche, where it was designated Tropical Depression Thirteen on October 6. Favorable conditions, including low wind shear and high sea surface temperatures, allowed the system to intensify rapidly into a tropical storm later that same day.

The storm reached its peak intensity early on October 7, with winds of 65 mph. Its defining characteristic was its extreme compactness. At 00:52 UTC that day, its tropical storm-force winds reached only 11.5 miles from the center. This measurement officially surpassed the previous record holder, Cyclone Tracy, which had a wind radius of 30 miles when it was recorded on December 24, 1974. Marco maintained a small area of deep convection, averaging only 9.2 miles in diameter, as it tracked toward the coast of Mexico.

Marco made landfall near Misantla, Veracruz, at 12:00 UTC on October 7. Although the storm was small, it brought significant rainfall, with peaks of 7.9 inches in El Pujal, San Luis Potosí. The resulting floods reached depths of up to 10 feet, inundating homes and highways in Veracruz. Despite the flooding, which affected 13 municipalities and prompted the evacuation of 3,000 people, the storm caused minimal damage and no injuries among the 400,000 people affected. The system dissipated over the mountains of Mexico shortly after moving inland.

The storm's formation near Mexico's oil infrastructure led to precautionary shutdowns, including the evacuation of 33 workers from four platforms and the closure of six oil wells. The government responded by declaring a state of emergency for 48 municipalities and distributing relief supplies, including 260,000 boxes of milk and 250,000 packages of biscuits. While Marco holds the record for the smallest tropical cyclone by wind radius, it serves as a reminder that even the most compact storms can produce intense local flooding.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The storm that defied the graveyard of the eastern Caribbean
• Hurricane Isaias defied meteorologists by maintaining its strength over the rugged terrain of Hispaniola
• How Hurricane Melissa Became One of the Most Intense Storms in Atlantic History
• A record-breaking storm that defied the odds of geography
• How a University Comic Strip Became a Major Texas Film Production Powerhouse
• Sweden's industrial artery is fighting to stay relevant in a modern world
• The shifting names of a city born from an Indian hunting ground
• The Trinity River was once envisioned as a massive shipping channel for inland Texas
• Tso Moriri is a high-altitude remnant of a vast prehistoric lake in Ladakh
• Trincomalee: The ancient Sri Lankan port city once called the Rome of the Orient
• The invisible line in the water that separates two distinct Asian animal worlds
• How a regional transit agency in Oregon keeps the Portland metropolitan area moving daily

More in Bodies of water · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics