Hurricane Pauline

Last updated
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of Hurricane Pauline were thought to have been spawned by a tropical wave, which moved off the coast of Africa into the tropical Atlantic Ocean on September 16, 1997. [1] [2] The wave subsequently moved across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, before it moved across northern South America and entered the Pacific Ocean near Panama on September 26. [1] On October 5, after a low-level circulation centre and an area of deep atmospheric convection had persisted on visible satellite imagery, the United States National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on the wave and designated it as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E. [3] At this time the system was located about 290 mi (465 km) to the southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, and had started to move eastwards, as a result of a trough of low pressure over central America that had disrupted the normal steering currents. [3] [4] During that day, the system continued to develop with a banding feature wrapping more than halfway around the low-level circulation centre, before the NHC reported that the system had intensified into a tropical storm and named it Pauline during October 6. [5]


A strong high pressure system eroded the trough over southeastern Mexico, which turned Pauline to the northeast. An eye feature developed late on October 6, and early the next day Pauline intensified into a hurricane about 265 miles (426 km) southeast of Salina Cruz after turning to the north and northwest. [4]

Hurricane Pauline off the Mexican coast on October 7 Hurr-pauline-vis1.gif
Hurricane Pauline off the Mexican coast on October 7

Pauline rapidly intensified after becoming a hurricane with favorable conditions for continued development, and 18 hours after becoming a hurricane it attained a peak intensity of 135 mph (217 km/h). The winds of the hurricane weakened slightly to 115 mph (185 km/h), but on October 8 Pauline re-strengthened to reach winds of 135 mph (217 km/h) a short distance off the coast of Mexico. The hurricane turned more to the west-northwest while paralleling the southern coast of Oaxaca, and Pauline quickly weakened due to interaction with the mountainous terrain before landfall near Puerto Ángel as a 110 mph (180 km/h) hurricane early on October 9. The tropical cyclone continued to weaken as it paralleled the coast a short distance inland. On October 10, Pauline dissipated over the state of Jalisco. [4]

On October 10, the NHC issued their final advisory on the system after the first visible satellite imagery of the day, showed that Pauline had dissipated over Jalisco and no longer had a well-defined low-level circulation. [6]

Preparations

Early forecasts underestimated the peak intensity of Pauline by 65 mph (105 km/h). On October 7, about 41 hours before landfall, the government of Mexico issued a hurricane warning from Tapachula in Chiapas to Punta Maldonado in Guerrero. Shortly after Pauline made landfall, the warning was extended northwestward to Manzanillo, Colima, and later to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Pauline's turn to the west-northwest near landfall was unexpected, resulting in hurricane conditions with only a few hours notice in some areas. [4]

Authorities in El Salvador declared a national state of alert in response to the potential threat from the hurricane. Residents in flood-prone areas were warned of potential flash flooding. [7] As the hurricane turned sharply to the northwest, there are no reports of damage or deaths from Pauline in the country. [4] Officials in Puerto Madero closed port facilities to all ships, excluding ships in open seas seeking shelter. [7] The government ultimately closed six major ports between Acapulco and Puerto Madero. State authorities in Oaxaca opened 75 emergency shelters [8] and prepared 50 schools to house 10,000 people. [9]

Impact

Hurricane Pauline Rainfall in Mexico Pauline 1997 rainfall.gif
Hurricane Pauline Rainfall in Mexico

Few surface observations were taken during the passage of the hurricane, though officials reported that southern Mexico experienced the brunt of the storm. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, near where Pauline made landfall, reported a peak wind gust of 70 mph (110 km/h) several hours before the hurricane moved through the area; no reports were available after that time. An anemometer in Acapulco reported a wind gust of 59 mph (95 km/h) with sustained winds of 46 mph (74 km/h). However, officials estimate Pauline might have been a hurricane while passing through the area. [4] The hurricane produced very heavy rainfall along its path, [9] with many areas receiving more than 15 inches (380 mm). According to the Comision Nacional del Agua, precipitation was recorded at 2,132 sites. The two highest reported rainfall totals are 27.1 inches (690 mm) at San Luis Actlan, and 32.62 inches (829 mm) at Puente Jula, near Paso de Ovejas in the state of Veracruz. [2] [9] This made Pauline the wettest tropical cyclone in the history of Guerrero. [10] In Acapulco, the hurricane dropped 16.9 in (430 mm) of rainfall in 24 hours. This broke the city precipitation record set originally in 1974; [11] the 1997 total represented about 25% of the city's annual rainfall. [12] Seas of about 30 ft (9.1 m) were reported along the Oaxaca coastline while the hurricane made landfall. [9]

Hurricane Pauline lightly affected the state of Chiapas, but severely affected Oaxaca and Guerrero, two of the poorest regions of Mexico. The area most impacted was the region in and around Acapulco. [13] Throughout the country, Hurricane Pauline resulted in $447.8 million in damage (1997 USD). [14] A report issued by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs reported 137 deaths three days after Hurricane Pauline. [15] Four days after the passage of the hurricane, a Reuters news report stated there were 173 dead with about 200 missing, [16] while the government of Mexico issued a statement reporting 149 deaths. [17] Ultimately, media reports indicated a death toll of at least 230 people, and the Mexican Red Cross estimated 400 dead [4] and at least 1,900 missing. The Church World Service estimated at least 500 people were killed. [18] Relief Web suggests that 217 fatalities were reported and 600,000 people were impacted. [19] Approximately 300,000 people were left homeless due to the storm. [20]

Environment

Hurricane Pauline
Pauline 1997-10-08 1800Z.png
Hurricane Pauline at peak intensity nearing landfall in Mexico on October 8
Known Pacific hurricanes that have killed at least 100 people
HurricaneSeasonFatalitiesRef.
"Mexico" 1959 1,800 [21]
Paul 1982 1,625 [22] [23] [24] [25]
Liza 1976 1,263 [26] [27] [28]
Tara 1961 436 [29]
Pauline 1997 230–400 [4]
Agatha 2010 204 [30] [14]
Manuel 2013 169 [31]
Tico 1983 141 [32] [33]
Ismael 1995 116 [34]
"Lower California" 1931 110 [35] [36]
"Mazatlán" 1943 100 [37]
Lidia 1981 100 [14]

The hurricane caused severe damage to the environment; 200 square miles (520 km2) of low-lying rainforest and pine and evergreen oak woodlands were greatly damaged in southern Mexico. [38] Strong waves produced severe beach erosion in some locations. The erosion affected two nesting cycles for the olive ridley turtle, [39] destroying about 40 million eggs. Nearly 806,000 nests were affected, and about 50% of these were wiped out. [40] The deadliest and most intense hurricane to hit southern Mexico since 1959, [41] the hurricane was the first documented hurricane strike on Pacific coral reefs. [42] Crop damage was extreme, and 400,000 bags of coffee were lost. In the days after the hurricane, soybean and wheat prices increased. [43] In all, Hurricane Pauline had a large effect on fauna in Southern Mexico. [11]

Oaxaca

A state of emergency was declared for the state of Oaxaca shortly after Pauline made landfall. [44] Abundant rainfall caused the River Los Perros to overflow its capacity, flooding 50  municipalities in Oaxaca. The flooding damaged 12 bridges, [15] of which two were destroyed, [45] and cut off some areas of electricity, drinking water, and telecommunications for several days. [15] The passage of the hurricane affected thousands of houses, leaving roughly 250,000 homeless in the state. [46] At least 110 people died in the state, with hundreds of thousands of residents and 1,278 communities being affected. [18]

Strong winds from the hurricane downed trees and power lines throughout southern Oaxaca. The storm temporarily isolated Puerto Ángel and a navy base thereby cutting off communications from the rest of Mexico. In Huatulco, the winds blew down antennas at the local television station and destroyed at least 30 cardboard houses. [9] A community near the airport of the city was hit hard, with several people left homeless. Heavy rainfall from the storm caused severe flooding in portions of Oaxaca and neighboring Chiapas. [44] A total of about 500 entire communities were destroyed in Oaxaca; the areas worst affected were Zapotecos, Chatino, and Mixtecos. [18]

Guerrero

Heavy rainfall led to severe mudslides and flooding throughout southern Guerrero. Entire communities were nearly destroyed, with some remaining flooded for a week after the hurricane. The flooding washed out or destroyed thousands of acres of crops, and killed thousands of cattle. The flooding and mudslides isolated more than 45,000 people from the outside world. [18] The passage of the hurricane resulted in damage to houses, bridges, and electrical and water supply. [46] About 400 mm (16 in) fell in the city in a three-hour span, resulting in rivers overflowing its banks. About 1,100 vessels were stranded at port, and 35 ships sunk. Damage to the coffee industry was $80 million (1997 USD). [47] One environmental agency remarked that it will take 15 years for coffee crops to recover. According to one preliminary estimate, 123 people died in Guerrero, [15] primarily in Acapulco. Over 200 were missing by four days after the hurricane due to being washed out to sea or buried in mudslides. [17] A total of 50,000 people were left homeless across the state. [46] Striking the week after Tropical Storm Olaf, previously wet grounds combined with heavy rainfall from Pauline resulted in severe mudslides and flash flooding in shanty towns around Acapulco Bay. [48] There, around 5,000 homes were destroyed with another 25,000 damaged, [18] with 10,000 people left homeless in and around the city. [13] The luxury resort hotels near the beach were largely unaffected by the hurricane, though residents in the shanty towns lost what little they had. Much of the city was covered in mud, and 70 percent of Acapulco was without water as a result of the hurricane. [16] Most of the city's one million residents were left without power or telephone service. [13] Overall, total damage was nearly $300 million pesos. [47]

Aftermath

Memorial in Acapulco to honor the victims from Pauline Acapulco - PlacaPaulina2.JPG
Memorial in Acapulco to honor the victims from Pauline

Volunteers from the Mexican Red Cross quickly went to disaster areas with search and rescue teams, [48] including using specially trained dogs to search for hurricane victims trapped under muddy areas of Acapulco. By four days after the storm each team was finding one or two corpses per day, with officials stating the search could take weeks. [16] In Guerrero, the teams rescued a total of 35 people from hazard. [15] Hours after the hurricane passed through the area, relief works traveled by boat through flooded areas to assist the worst-hit areas. The Red Cross provided food, water, clothing, blankets, water purification supplies, milk powder and other non-perishable foods, and medical supplies to those staying in government shelters in Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Chiapas. The Mexican Red Cross also set up shelters to house and feed hundreds of displaced people, and by four days after the storm, the Red Cross distributed 100 tonnes of relief supplies to hurricane victims. Medical workers were also deployed to the area to aid the injured. [48]

Officials set up emergency water purification plants in Acapulco, though water remained largely unavailable. Water trucks were sent to the city, with thousands standing in line for fresh water. Tourists in luxury hotels of Acapulco, for the most part generally unaffected by the hurricane, [16] and rapidly recovered while other parts of the city remained devastated. [49] Hotels were forced to use bottled water and ration their available water to as little as possible to provide water for the rest of the city. [50] Extreme price gouging occurred in the city following the hurricane, with one consumer protection official reporting shopkeepers charging 200 percent more for milk, 500 percent more for tortillas, and 1000 percent more than usual for water. [17] Even though the government was blamed for lack of warnings and water shortages, Ernesto Zedillo, the president of Mexico at that time, cut his vacation in Europe short to respond to the catastrophe. [51] Government officials set up 39 aid centers for Acapulco citizens, though some residents were unable to get food and water. Some residents suspected than the president and his Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) of taking aid supplies for their own purposes. The president promised to seek charges and decided to close aid centers in favor of opening soup kitchens. Despite having the food, the Mexican army did not set up the kitchens, nor was aid distributed at the aid centers. [50]

Most of Acapulco remained closed for at least a week after the hurricane. [50] Initially, authorities around Acapulco gave preference to clean up tourist areas, which resulted in the scenic highway from the hotels to the airport being quickly fixed. Tourism greatly decreased following the hurricane, causing some hotels to charge 40 percent less than normal in an attempt to bring people back. One airline offered two plane tickets for the price of one from Mexico City to Acapulco. Most hotels were almost completely back to normal around a month after the hurricane. [52]

Donations

The governments of Oaxaca and Guerrero asked UNICEF for assistance, specifically water tanks, water pumps, and construction material. [15] International aid initially focused almost solely on the damage in Acapulco. By a week after the hurricane, 500 communities in Oaxaca remained isolated and without assistance, with several large communities in Guerrero not receiving any material aid by a week after the hurricane. [18] The Adventist Development and Relief Agency organized about 7 tons of food and clothing, and sent a bus of 40 people to help isolated villages in southern Mexico. [53] Around ten days after the hurricane struck, 20,000 people were still isolated from emergency crews and relief works, causing the president to suspect people could begin starving to death. Helicopters were initially sent to the remote areas, though severe fog and heavy rainfall after the hurricane grounded the operations. The government worked to bring food to remote mountain communities, though officials noted the serious risk in doing so. [54]

Three days after the hurricane, the American Red Cross sent an initial donation of $25,000 (1997 USD), and also sent plastic sheets for temporary roofing and cleaning supplies such as mops, brooms, buckets, sponges, bleach, and cleaning chemicals. [48] Local chapters also offered assistance. The chapter in San Antonio, Texas, sent cleaning kits, and the chapter in Los Angeles delivered 2,000 comfort kits containing hygiene supplies and crossword puzzles for children. [55] The German Red Cross also offered assistance. [48]

Diseases

The floodwaters from the hurricane combined with raw sewage in many poor areas of southwestern Mexico, leading to a widespread threat for a spread of tropical diseases. As a result, government health workers opened vaccination centers in several cities along the Guerrero and Oaxaca coasts. Thousands were inoculated for typhoid fever and tetanus. Officials noted a potential threat for dengue and cholera as a result of the spoiled water. Health workers also stated mosquitos possessing malaria and dengue fever were likely to breed in large areas of leftover water. In Acapulco, about two days after the hurricane passed, the first day of sun in a week evaporated the areas of leftover water, spreading dust across the region with the deadly diseases. Residents were warned to boil their food and water for 30 minutes due to the threat for contamination by the dust. [16] At least twenty cases of cholera [52] and at least six cases of dengue fever were reported. [56] Most significantly, there were 14,630 cases of malaria in 616 villages in Oaxaca due to Pauline; this represented about 80% of the malaria cases in Mexico during 1998. [57] Army soldiers distributed chlorine tablets to disinfect water pools and wheelbarrows to remove rotting mud and sewage from their damaged homes. Two C-130 Hercules planes and twenty helicopters airlifted food and water to smaller villages south of Acapulco that were stranded for nearly a week after the hurricane. [50] Relief efforts in Oaxaca were hampered when Hurricane Rick brought over 10 in (250 mm) of additional rain to the region one month later, causing more flash flooding and mudslides. [58]

Retirement

Because of the high death tolls and the extent of damage in Mexico, the name Pauline was retired following the season by the World Meteorological Organization and will never again be used for a Pacific hurricane. [59] [60] It was replaced by Patricia for the 2003 season. [61]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Pacific hurricane season</span>

The 1997 Pacific hurricane season was a very active hurricane season. With hundreds of deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, this was one of the deadliest and costliest Pacific hurricane seasons on record. This was due to the exceptionally strong 1997–98 El Niño event. The season officially started on May 15, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when almost all tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane John (2006)</span> Category 4 Pacific hurricane

Hurricane John was a Category 4 hurricane that caused heavy flooding and extensive damage across most of the Pacific coast of Mexico in late August through early September 2006. John was the eleventh named storm, seventh hurricane, and fifth major hurricane of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. Hurricane John developed on August 28 from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico. Favorable conditions allowed the storm to intensify quickly, and it attained peak winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) on August 30. Eyewall replacement cycles and land interaction with western Mexico weakened the hurricane, and John made landfall on southeastern Baja California Sur with winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) on September 1. It slowly weakened as it moved northwestward through the Baja California peninsula, and dissipated on September 4. Moisture from the remnants of the storm entered the southwest United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Lane (2006)</span> Category 3 Pacific hurricane in 2006

Hurricane Lane was a powerful tropical cyclone which is tied as the ninth-strongest landfalling Pacific hurricane on record. The thirteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, and sixth major hurricane of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season, Lane developed on September 13 from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico. It moved northwestward, parallel to the coast of Mexico, and steadily intensified in an area conducive to further strengthening. After turning to the northeast, Lane attained peak winds of 125 mph (201 km/h), and made landfall in the state of Sinaloa at peak strength. It rapidly weakened and dissipated on September 17, and later brought precipitation to southern part of the U.S. state of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Rick (1997)</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 1997

Hurricane Rick was the second-latest hurricane in the calendar year to make landfall in Mexico. The eighteenth named storm and ninth and final hurricane of the 1997 Pacific hurricane season, Rick was a short-lived Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale that weakened before making landfall in Mexico on November 10. It hit almost a month after the more powerful Hurricane Pauline made landfall in the same area. Most of the damage associated with Pauline was exacerbated by the weaker Rick, which struck during rebuilding efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Bridget</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 1971

Hurricane Bridget of June 1971 was one of the worst hurricanes to strike the Mexican city of Acapulco. It formed on June 14 as a tropical depression, which is a minimal tropical cyclone with winds less than gale force. However, it was soon upgraded to a tropical storm, and Bridget steadily intensified to become a hurricane on June 15. After peaking at Category 2 intensity, it weakened to a tropical storm on June 17, then made landfall in Mexico. Hours later, however, it turned offshore as a tropical depression. Bridget dissipated on June 20 after leaving heavy damage and 17 deaths in the Acapulco area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Tara</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 1961

Hurricane 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 Tecpan 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Barbara (2013)</span> Pacific hurricane in 2013

Hurricane Barbara was the easternmost landfalling Pacific hurricane on record. As the first hurricane of the 2013 Pacific hurricane season, Barbara developed from a low-pressure area while located southeast of Mexico on May 28. It headed slowly north-northeastward and strengthened into a tropical storm early on the following day. After recurving to the northeast, Barbara intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on May 29 and made landfall in Chiapas at peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure estimated at 983 mbar. When the hurricane made landfall, it was the second earliest landfalling hurricane in the basin since reliable records began in 1966. Barbara then moved across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and dissipated within the mountainous terrain of Sierra Madre de Chiapas on May 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Carlos (2003)</span> Pacific tropical storm in 2003

Tropical Storm Carlos was the first of five tropical cyclones to make landfall during the 2003 Pacific hurricane season. It formed on June 26 from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico. It quickly strengthened as it approached the coast, and early on June 27 Carlos moved ashore in Oaxaca with winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). The storm rapidly deteriorated to a remnant low, which persisted until dissipating on June 29. Carlos brought heavy rainfall to portions of southern Mexico, peaking at 337 mm (13.3 in) in two locations in Guerrero. Throughout its path, the storm damaged about 30,000 houses, with a monetary damage total of 86.7 million pesos. At least nine people were killed throughout the country, seven due to mudslides and two from river flooding; there was also a report of two missing fishermen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Cristina (1996)</span> Pacific tropical storm in 1996

Tropical Storm Cristina was the third tropical cyclone to make landfall along the Pacific Coast of Mexico in 10 days. On July 1, an area of disturbed weather developed into a tropical depression off the coast of Central America. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Cristina on July 2 as it moved west-northwest. Cristina was almost a hurricane at the time of its landfall near Puerto Ángel on July 3. The cyclone dissipated over the mountains of Mexico on the same day. Tropical Storm Cristina claimed 13 lives and left 62 missing. Eleven fishing boats were reported missing and 350 people were left homeless

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Olaf (1997)</span> Pacific tropical storm in 1997

Tropical Storm Olaf was an erratic and long-lived tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall to regions of Mexico, which would be devastated by Hurricane Pauline a week later. The sixteenth named storm of the 1997 season, Olaf formed on September 26 off the southern coast of Mexico. It moved northward and quickly intensified, reaching peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) before weakening and hitting Oaxaca as a tropical depression. In Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, the system brought heavy rainfall, which killed 18 people and caused flooding and damage. It was originally thought that Olaf dissipated over Mexico, although its remnants continued westward for a week. It interacted with Hurricane Pauline, which caused Olaf to turn to the southeast and later to the north to strike Mexico again, finally dissipating on October 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Dolores (1974)</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 1974

Hurricane Dolores was regarded as the worst hurricane to strike Acapulco since 1938. Developing on June 13, 1974, the system rapidly organized into a tropical storm the next day off the southern coast of Mexico. Over the following day, Dolores developed an eye-like feature and attained hurricane status. With peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), the storm made landfall near Acapulco. Once onshore, Dolores rapidly dissipated and was last noted on June 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Odile (1984)</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 1984

Hurricane Odile was the second of three tropical storms to make landfall in Mexico during the 1984 Pacific hurricane season. The fifteenth named storm and twelfth hurricane of the active season, it developed from a tropical disturbance about 185 miles (298 km) south of Acapulco on September 17. Curving towards the northwest, Odile became a Category 1 hurricane on September 19. The tropical cyclone reached its peak intensity with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) two days later; however, Hurricane Odile began to weaken as moved erratically it encountered less favorable conditions and was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly before making landfall northwest of Zihuatanejo. Over land, the storm rapidly weakened, and dissipated on September 23. The storm caused significant rainfall accumulations of 24.73 inches (628 mm) in Southern Mexico, resulting in severe damage to tourism resorts. Flooding from Odile resulted in the evacuation of 7,000 people, 21 deaths, and the damage of about 900 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Manuel</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 2013

Hurricane Manuel was a catastrophic tropical cyclone that brought widespread flooding across much of Mexico in September 2013, in conjunction with Hurricane Ingrid. The fifteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the annual hurricane season, Manuel originated from a strong area of low pressure south of Acapulco on September 13. Within favorable conditions aloft, the storm intensified into a tropical storm as it tracked northward. The following day, Manuel curved westward and strengthened to a point just shy of hurricane intensity before making its first landfall at that intensity on September 15. Due to interaction with land, the tropical storm quickly weakened, and its center dissipated over western Mexico on September 16. However, the storm's remnants continued to track northwestward into the Gulf of California, where they reorganized into a tropical cyclone the next day. Manuel regained tropical storm status on September 18 as it began to curve northeastward. Shortly thereafter, Manuel attained Category 1 hurricane intensity, before making its final landfall just west of Culiacán at peak intensity. Over land, Manuel quickly weakened due to interaction with Mexico's high terrain, and the storm dissipated early on September 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Ingrid</span> Category 1 Atlantic hurricane in 2013

Hurricane Ingrid was one of two tropical cyclones, along with Hurricane Manuel, to strike Mexico within a 24-hour period, the first such occurrence since 1958. Ingrid was the ninth named storm and second hurricane of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed on September 12 in the Gulf of Mexico from a broad disturbance that also spawned Manuel in the eastern Pacific. After initially moving westward toward Veracruz, Ingrid turned northeastward away from the coast. Favorable conditions allowed it to attain hurricane status on September 14, and the next day Ingrid attained peak winds of 140 km/h (85 mph). Subsequently, increased wind shear weakened the convection as the storm turned more to the northwest and west. On September 16, Ingrid made landfall just south of La Pesca, Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico as a strong tropical storm, and dissipated the next day. The hurricane was also the last one to form in the Gulf of Mexico until Hurricane Hermine in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Max (2017)</span> Category 1 Pacific hurricane in 2017

Hurricane Max was a rapidly-forming tropical cyclone that made landfall in southwestern Mexico, causing minor damage. The sixteenth tropical cyclone, thirteenth named storm, and seventh hurricane of the 2017 Pacific hurricane season, Max developed from a trough of low pressure near the southwestern coast of Mexico on September 13. The storm tracked northeastward under the influence of a mid-level ridge and rapidly strengthened as a result of warm ocean temperatures in its path. Max strengthened into a hurricane on September 14 and peaked as a high-end Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale shortly before making landfall in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Rapid weakening ensued as Max moved over the mountainous terrain of Mexico, and it weakened below hurricane strength early on September 15. At 12:00 UTC that day, Max dissipated over the mountains of southern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Carlotta (2018)</span> Eastern Pacific tropical storm

Tropical Storm Carlotta was a moderately strong tropical cyclone that caused flooding in several states in southwestern and central Mexico. Carlotta, the third named storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, formed as the result of a breakdown in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. On June 12, a broad area of low pressure developed several hundred miles south of Mexico and strengthened into a tropical storm by June 15. The next day, the system stalled unexpectedly within a favorable environment, which led to more intensification than originally anticipated. Early on June 17, Carlotta reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 997 mbar while located only 30 mi (50 km) south-southeast of Acapulco. The system then began to interact with land and experience wind shear, which resulted in the storm weakening to tropical depression status later in the day. The system weakened to a remnant low early on June 19 and dissipated several hours later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Dolores (2021)</span> Eastern Pacific tropical storm in 2021

Tropical Storm Dolores was a strong tropical storm that made landfall in southwestern Mexico in June 2021. The fourth named storm of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, Dolores developed from a low-pressure area that formed offshore the Mexican state of Oaxaca on June 16, 2021. The low steadily developed organized deep convection and a closed surface circulation, becoming Tropical Depression Four-E around 06:00 UTC June 18. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm nine hours later and was named Dolores. Gradually approaching the southwestern coast of Mexico, Dolores steadily intensified despite its close proximity to land. The storm reached its peak intensity around 15:00 UTC June 19 with maximum sustained winds of 115 km/h (70 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 29.2 inHg (989 mbar), just below hurricane strength. Shortly after reaching this intensity, Dolores made landfall just northwest of Punta San Telmo, near the Colima–Michoacán state border. The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland over Mexico and dissipated early on June 20 over the state of Zacatecas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Rick (2021)</span> Category 2 Pacific hurricane in 2021

Hurricane Rick was a Category 2 Pacific hurricane that struck the southwestern coast of Mexico in late October 2021. Rick was the overall seventeenth named system and the eighth hurricane of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, as well as the fifth named storm and fourth hurricane to make landfall along the Pacific coast of Mexico in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Storm Lester (2022)</span> Eastern Pacific tropical storm in September 2022

Tropical Storm Lester was a short-lived tropical cyclone that caused severe rainfall and flash flooding in southern Mexico in September 2022. The thirteenth named storm of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Lester developed from an area of disturbed weather that formed offshore the Pacific Coast of Mexico on September 13. The disturbance spawned an area of low pressure two days later, which quickly organized into a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on September 15. Moving slowly northwestward, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Lester the following morning. Despite being located over very warm sea surface temperatures and in a moist environment, Lester was unable to intensify further and remained a minimal tropical storm as it slowly approached the coast of Mexico, due to moderately strong wind shear. Lester made landfall near Punta Maldonado in extreme southwestern Guerrero as a tropical depression around 12:00 UTC on September 17. The cyclone quickly dissipated over the rough terrain of Mexico later that day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane John (2024)</span> Category 3 Pacific hurricane

Hurricane John was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused deadly flooding across southern Mexico for several days in September 2024. The eleventh named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2024 Pacific hurricane season, John originated from a low-pressure area offshore Southern Mexico. This low developed into Tropical Depression Ten‑E on the afternoon of September 22, strengthening into Tropical Storm John the following morning. Undergoing rapid intensification, John strengthened from a moderate tropical storm into a Category 3 hurricane on September 24. It was at that intensity that John made landfall in Marquelia, Guerrero, later that day. Once inland, John rapidly weakened, dissipating over Mexico later that day. However, the mid-level remnants of John moved back over the ocean, where favorable conditions enabled John to redevelop. On September 27, after again becoming a minimal hurricane, Tropical Storm John made its second landfall, this time near Tizupan, Michoacán. Hours later, it dissipated for a final time over the coastal mountains.

References

  1. 1 2 Lawrence, Miles B (October 1999). "Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 1997". Monthly Weather Review. 127 (10): 2440–2454. Bibcode:1999MWRv..127.2440L. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<2440:ENPHSO>2.0.CO;2 . S2CID   119404326.
  2. 1 2 Roth, David M (May 12, 2022). "Hurricane Pauline - October 3-10, 1997". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved June 1, 2023.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. 1 2 Lawrence, Miles B (October 6, 1997). Tropical Depression Eighteen-E Discussion Number 1 (Report). United States National Hurricane Center.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lawrence, Miles B (November 7, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Pauline October 5 – 10, 1997 (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center.
  5. ↑ Pasch, Richard J (October 6, 1997). Tropical Storm Pauline Discussion Number 2 (Report). United States National Hurricane Center.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ Lawrence, Miles B (October 10, 1997). Tropical Depression Pauline Discussion Number 19 (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 12, 2023.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. 1 2 CNN (1997). "Powerful Hurricane Pauline churns toward Mexico". Archived from the original on 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2007-01-10.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ↑ CNN (1997). "'Dangerous' Hurricane Pauline to hit southwest Mexico". Archived from the original on 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2007-01-10.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 CNN (1997). "Southern Mexico facing perils of Pauline" . Retrieved 2007-01-10.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ↑ David Roth. "Tropical Cyclone Maxima Per Mexican State" (GIF). Hydrometeorological Prediction Center . Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  11. 1 2 "Efectos del huracán "Pauline" (1997) sobre la fauna asociada a la planta Eichhornia crassipes en la Laguna Coyuca, Pacífico Sur de México" (PDF). Laboratorio de Carcinoparasitología, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 14, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  12. ↑ R. Meli (March 1998). "Damage in Acapulco by Hurricane Pauline". Natural Hazards Observer. 22 (4). Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  13. 1 2 3 Church World Service (1997). "Situation Report Hurricane Pauline". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  14. 1 2 3 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. "EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database" . Université catholique de Louvain.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (1997). "Mexico Hurricane Pauline Situation Report No.1". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 David Luhnow (1997-10-13). "Plague Fears Mount in Storm-Wrecked Acapulco". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  17. 1 2 3 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997). "Survivors of Mexican hurricane facing shortages of food and water". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Church World Service (1997). "Situation Report Hurricane Pauline". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  19. ↑ Administrator (2007-02-18). "Hurricane Pauline - October 1997, Mexico". Interragate.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-29. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  20. ↑ "Initial Disaster Appeal Mexico Hurricane Pauline". Relief Web. 1997-10-24. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  21. ↑ Natural Hazards of North America (Map). National Geographic Society. April 1998.
  22. ↑ "More Flood Victims found". The Spokesman-Review. September 28, 1982. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  23. ↑ "More flood victims found". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 28, 1982. p. 12. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Mexico - Disaster Statistics". Prevention Web. 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  25. ↑ "24 killed from hurricane". The Hour. October 1, 1982. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Mexico gives up to try and find storm victims". Bangor Daily News. United Press International. October 6, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Hurricane Liza rips Mexico". Beaver County Times. United Press International. October 2, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Historias y Anecdotas de Yavaros". Ecos del mayo (in Spanish). June 14, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1900-present" (PDF). Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. August 1993. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  30. ↑ Beven, John L (January 10, 2011). Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Agatha (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  31. ↑ Steve Jakubowski; Adityam Krovvidi; Adam Podlaha; Steve Bowen. "September 2013 Global Catasrophe Recap" (PDF). Impact Forecasting. AON Benefield. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Disaster History: Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide, 1900-Present". Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development. 1989. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Oklahoma residents clean up in Hurricane's wake". The Evening independent. October 22, 1983. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  34. ↑ Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (2006). "Impacto Socioeconómico de los Ciclones Tropicales 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  35. ↑ Associated Press (November 17, 1931). "Hurricane Toll Reaches 100 in Mexico Blow". The Evening Independent . Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  36. ↑ "World News". The Virgin Islands Daily News . September 18, 1931. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  37. ↑ Sumber, Howard C (January 4, 1944). "1943 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  38. ↑ North American Forest Commission (1998). "Impact of climatic factors such as El Niño on forests" . Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  39. ↑ Laura Sarti; Juan Díaz; Manuel Garduño; Javier Vasconcelos; Ernesto Albavera; Cuauhtemoc Peñaflores; René Márquez M. (1998). "Effect of Hurricane Pauline on the Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtle in Escobilla Beach, Oaxaca, Mexico" (PDF). United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  40. ↑ Marine Turtle Newsletter (1997). "Hurricane Pauline Destroyed 40 Million Sea Turtle Eggs in the Oaxacan Beach of Mazunte" . Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  41. ↑ Action by Churches Together International. "Alert Mexico Hurricane Pauline". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  42. ↑ P.W. Glynn; D. Lirman; A.C. Baker; G.E. Leyte Morales (1998). "First documented hurricane strikes on eastern Pacific coral reefs reveal only slight damage". Coral Reefs. 17 (4, 368): 368. doi:10.1007/s003380050140. S2CID   28281330.
  43. ↑ "Solid export demands take soybeans, wheat prices higher". The Robesonian. 1997-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  44. 1 2 CNN (1997). "Pauline hits Mexico's Pacific coast resorts". Archived from the original on 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2007-01-10.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  45. ↑ UN Department of Public Information (1997). "Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero ask UNICEF for assistance following destruction by hurricane Pauline". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  46. 1 2 3 National Drought Mitigation Center (1997). "Reported Effects of the 1997-98 El Niño" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  47. 1 2 Boletín 37 (April 4, 1998). "Algunos efectos de la precipitación del huracán Paulina en Acapulco, Guerrero" (PDF). Investigaciones Geográfica. pp. 1–14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (1997). "Mexico Hurricane Pauline Information Bulletin No.1". ReliefWeb. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  49. ↑ Gene Sloan (1997-10-17). "Acapulco tourist area rebounds from Pauline". USA Today . McLean, Virginia. pp. 01.D.
  50. 1 2 3 4 David Luhnow (1997-10-15). "Mexico Storm Victims Desperate for Food, Water". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  51. ↑ "The lesson of hurricane Pauline". The Americans print edition. Economist.com. 1997-10-16. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  52. 1 2 Julia Preston (1997-11-19). "Acapulco Tourist Areas Are Open After Storm". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  53. ↑ Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (1997). "Relief continues for hurricane survivors" . Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  54. ↑ Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997-10-19). "People in Mexico's Pacific mountains face starvation after hurricane" . Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  55. ↑ American Red Cross (1997). "Hard Work Continues in the Wake of Hurricane Pauline" . Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  56. ↑ David Luhnow (1997-10-14). "Cholera Breaks Out in Acapulco". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  57. ↑ Juan E Hernández-Avila; et al. (September–October 2006). "Determinant factors for malaria transmission on the coast of Oaxaca State, the main residual transmission focus in Mexico". Salud Pública de México. 48 (5): 405–417. doi: 10.1590/S0036-36342006000500007 . PMID   17063824.
  58. ↑ Gary Padgett (1997). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: November, 1997". Australia Severe Weather. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  59. ↑ "Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Name History". Atlantic Tropical Weather Center. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  61. ↑ Padgett, Gary. "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary: April 2003" . Retrieved March 5, 2024.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.