Hurricane Lester was a small but powerful tropical cyclone that caused heavy flooding in Central America and southern Mexico in October 1998.

The wave axis continued westward, and after crossing Central America a low-level circulation developed on October 13, about 170 miles (270 km) south of the border between El Salvador and Guatemala.

[7] At 1400 UTC on October 16, data from a Reconnaissance Aircraft confirmed that the storm had attained hurricane intensity with a minimum central pressure of 992 mb.

[10] Early on October 18, the eye began to wobble slightly and the ring of cold cloud tops were showing signs of disorganization, slowing further intensification for several hours.

[11] At 1400 UTC, Lester's winds increased to 100 mph (160 km/h) and the storm made its closest approach to land on October 18, about 70 miles (110 km) south of Puerto Angel, Oaxaca.

[13] Vertical wind shear associated with a mid-to-upper-level low pressure system developed and began to affect the storm's circulation on October 19, thus weakening it slightly.

[1] In anticipation of the storm, the government of Mexico issued a hurricane warning from Puerto Arista to Punta Maldonaldo and later from Salina Cruz to Acapulco.

Moisture brought around the northeast periphery of the Sierra Madre Occidental led to a narrow band of heavy rainfall along the upslope side of the mountain range, with a local precipitation maximum exceeding 14 inches (360 mm).