The 1995 Atlantic Hurricane Season had a total of 5 destructive hurricanes in it: Erin, Luis, Marilyn, Opal, and Roxanne. As I have stated this season started the second active phase of the Atlantic Basin. A trend that 30 years later has continued. Roxanne was the last and 5th destructive hurricane of the 1995 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa at the end of September. However, due to Hurricane Noel the wave did not develop due to wind shear from Noel. Eventually on October the 4th satellites detected a very broad area of circulation in the Caribbean. Models started to hint at another significant hurricane developing. The broad area of circulation entered the Western Caribbean on October the 6th with better organization occurring.

On October the 7th now off the Nicaragua/Honduras coast line the broad circulation compacted and banded. Thus, the National Hurricane Center named it a tropical depression. Weak Steering currents and a trough to the North meant the depression would eventually be pulled into Mexico. The National Hurricane Center started issuing bulletins that the depression could rapidly develop due to very warm water.

Early on October 9th the depression was named Roxanne the next name on the list. The wind Shear that had appeared on October the 8th lessen and Roxanne begin to get better organized. Later that day winds increased to 60 mph. On October the 10th Roxanne's winds increased to 75 mph making it a category 1 hurricane. Rapid strengthening continued and by Night Roxanne was a 100 mph category 2 hurricane.

On October the 11th Roxanne reaches its peak strength with winds up to 115 mph making Roxanne a category 3 major hurricane with a low pressure of 956 millibars. Roxanne made landfall not to far from Cozumel Mexico. On October 12th Roxanne emerged in the Bay of Campeche as a 75 mph category 1 hurricane. However dry air to the north due to a passing cold front caused some slight wind shear and Roxanne weakened to a tropical storm.

On October the 14th the wind shear lessened, but Roxanne begin to make a loop off the Mexican Coastline in the Campeche region. Also Roxanne's winds increased to 85 mph making Roxanne a hurricane again. Roxanne made another landfall in the Campeche state of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane. Roxanne emerged back over water as a tropical storm and slowly drifted westward. Another cold front caused dry air to enter the hurricane and it weakened to a tropical storm. On October 19th Roxanne made a final landfall in Mexico in the state of Veracruz as a tropical Storm. On October 20th Roxanne dissipated in the Mexico Mountains.

Roxanne made 3 landfalls in Mexico. Most of the damage was done in Cozumel and Campeche. Roxanne caused severe wind damage and flooding. To make matters worse Roxanne made landfall in a highly populated area twice. Some Mexico cities reported 24-30 inches of Rain from Roxanne.

Overall, in Mexico Roxanne caused $1.5 Billion dollars worth of damage and 29 deaths. Roxanne was historic because of its 3 landfalls in the same country. Due to its destruction the name Roxanne was retired the following year. In fact, it was the 4th name to be retired from 1995 the others being Luis, Marilyn, and Opal. Moreover, Roxanne was the 5th and last destructive hurricane of the 1995 season.

While Mexico has had more destructive hurricanes since Roxanne this hurricane is still talked about 30 years later. At one time Mexico considered Roxanne the benchmark of hurricanes due to its destruction. It should also be noted Roxanne was the 1st R named storm in the Atlantic and the first R named storm to get its named retired 30 years ago.