Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 20,2018 |
Dissipated | October 24,2018 |
Category 5 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 925 mbar (hPa);27.32 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 9 total |
Damage | $820 million (2018 USD) |
Areas affected | Central America,Mexico,Texas |
IBTrACS / [1] | |
Part of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Willa was a powerful tropical cyclone that brought torrential rains and destructive winds to southwestern Mexico,particularly the states of Sinaloa and Nayarit,during late October 2018. It was the twenty-fifth tropical cyclone,twenty-second named storm,thirteenth hurricane,tenth major hurricane,and record-tying third Category 5 hurricane of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season. Willa was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the Mexican state of Sinaloa since Lane in 2006.
Willa originated from a tropical wave that the United States-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor for tropical cyclogenesis in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on October 14. However,the system subsequently crossed over Central America into the East Pacific,without significant organization. The NHC continued to track the disturbance until it developed into a tropical depression on October 20,off the coast of southwestern Mexico. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Willa later in the day as a period of rapid intensification commenced. Willa peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) on the following day. Afterward,a combination of an eyewall replacement cycle and increasing wind shear weakened the hurricane,and early on October 24,Willa made landfall as a marginal Category 3 hurricane in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Following landfall,Willa rapidly weakened,dissipating later that day over northeastern Mexico.
Up to its landfall,Willa prompted the issuance of hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for western Mexico. The hurricane killed nine people,and caused Mex$16.1 billion (US$820 million) in damage, [nb 1] mostly around the area where it moved ashore. The storm knocked out power to nearly 100,000 people in four states. Willa caused significant damage to many schools,a hospital,and infrastructure in the city of Escuinapa,with totals estimated at Mex$6 billion (US$306 million). The overflow of multiple rivers damaged structures and left many areas in Sinaloa and Nayarit without a supply of potable water. In the surrounding states,flooding and landslides were the main sources of damage and injury. The remnants of Willa later entered the United States and caused flash floods in Texas. After the storm,multiple individuals did not receive direct help from the Mexican government until many months had passed. The victims mainly relied on help from charitable organizations to recover and rebuild their damaged property. The Sinaloa state government delivered rotten mattresses to storm victims and the federal government lost track of funds it had appropriated for relief efforts. Reconstruction was not slated to begin in some areas until a few months after the storm.
The origins of Hurricane Willa can be traced back to a tropical wave that left the west coast of Africa on October 2, 2018. Over the next few days, the wave produced intermittent bursts of deep convection, or thunderstorms; however, strong wind shear blasted the convection away from the center while the wave traveled westward across the Atlantic Ocean. [1] On October 14, the United States-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring the wave for tropical development while it was located in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. [3] On the next day, the system became better organized southeast of the Yucatán Peninsula, and the storm encountered more favorable conditions as it neared land. As a result, a WC-130 aircraft from the United States Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron was scheduled to survey the system for further development. [4] However, the wave made landfall in Belize on October 16, hindering further organization. [5]
The tropical wave moved into the East Pacific early on October 17; [6] however, the system failed to coalesce into a tropical cyclone, and became increasingly disorganized and elongated on the next day. [7] A new low-pressure trough, an elongated region of low atmospheric pressure, developed to the east of the original low early on October 19, [8] which organized into Tropical Storm Vicente later that day. [9] The original low to the west gradually organized while moving westward, and at 00:00 UTC on October 20, the system developed into a tropical depression while located approximately 265 mi (426 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. [1] Banding features –significantly elongated, curved bands of rain clouds –began to develop south of the center, while cloud tops west of the center became as cold as −121 to −132 °F (−85 to −91 °C). [10] The system then developed a tight inner core, [11] strengthening into a tropical storm around 12:00 UTC, while located about 290 mi (470 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo. At this point, the NHC assigned it the name Willa from its rotating list of names. [1]
Shortly thereafter, Willa began to rapidly intensify, with its low-level center becoming embedded beneath a central dense overcast, which is the large area of thunderstorms surrounding the storm's circulation center. At the same time, Willa turned towards the northwest as it began traveling around the western edge of a mid-level ridge. [12] Environmental conditions around the cyclone and aloft were favorable, with very low wind shear, high levels of moisture, and sea surface temperatures of 84 °F (29 °C). [13] These conditions allowed Willa to strengthen into a hurricane around 06:00 UTC on October 21. [1] Around the storm, outflow became well-established, and in the center of the convection, a small eye developed. [14] Willa reached Category 3 status by 18:00 UTC, with its eye becoming well-defined on both infrared and satellite imagery, making it the tenth major hurricane of the season. [1] [15] Continuing to rapidly intensify, Willa reached peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 925 mbar (27.3 inHg) at approximately 06:00 UTC on October 22, while located about 195 mi (314 km) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. This capped off a 48-hour period in which Willa's winds increased by 125 mph (201 km/h). [nb 2] [1] Over the next few days, Willa recurved towards Mexico; the system turned to the north as it rounded the edge of the ridge and later to the northeast due to an approaching mid-to-upper-level trough. [15] [17]
Shortly after Willa reached peak intensity, microwave satellite imagery detected the presence of an outer eyewall, indicating that Willa was beginning to undergo an eyewall replacement cycle. [18] [19] Willa also began to interact with the smaller Tropical Storm Vicente to the southeast at about this time. [20] Despite a favorable environment, Willa began to weaken due to the eyewall replacement cycle, with the storm's eye becoming cloud-filled; [1] [21] Willa weakened to Category 3 strength on October 23 around 06:00 UTC, as southwesterly wind shear began to increase. [22] The weakening trend abated as the eyewall replacement cycle ended, and Willa's eye passed over Isla San Juanito and Isla María Madre at approximately 17:45 UTC. [1] The system made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Palmito del Verde , Sinaloa, at 01:20 UTC on October 24 (7:20 PM MDT on October 23), with 1-minute sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg). [1] This made it the first Pacific major hurricane to strike Mexico since Hurricane Patricia in 2015, and the first landfalling major hurricane in Sinaloa since Hurricane Lane in 2006. [23] Willa's eye soon faded away on satellite imagery as it progressed inland. [17] Following landfall, mountainous terrain and southwesterly wind shear took a toll on the storm's strength, and Willa rapidly weakened, degenerating into a tropical storm by 06:00 UTC. [1] Six hours later, Willa dissipated over northeastern Mexico, with the mid- and upper-level circulations decoupling from the lower-level circulation. [24] The remnants of Willa continued to travel northeastward, bringing rain to multiple states in the United States. [1] Energy from the remnants contributed to the formation of a nor'easter in the eastern United States. [25]
The Government of Mexico issued a hurricane watch on October 21 at 15:00 UTC for the western coast of Mexico from San Blas to Mazatlán, and a tropical storm watch from Playa Perula to San Blas. Six hours later, a tropical storm watch was issued for Mazatlán to Bahía Tempehuaya . The hurricane watch and tropical storm watches were replaced with warnings at 03:00 UTC on October 22. All warnings were discontinued at 06:00 UTC on October 24 after Willa weakened to a tropical storm over Durango. [1]
Various other weather-related alerts were issued as Willa approached Mexico's Pacific coast. Red alerts, indicative of the maximum level of danger, were issued for portions of Nayarit and Sinaloa in Willa's direct path. [26] [27] In central Sinaloa and Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, orange alerts were issued due to high danger. [28] [29] A majority of Chihuahua was under a yellow alert, meaning moderate danger, due to the threat of heavy rainfall. [30] A green alert, signaling minimal danger, was issued for Baja California Sur as a precautionary measure due to waves along the coast. Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberón Sanz of the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy activated the Prevention Phase of the Marine Plan, a military disaster preparation and relief plan, in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán. [31] Small vessels were restricted in the ports of Comondú, La Paz, and Los Cabos as well as in the Gulf of California and Sea of Cortez. [32] Classes were canceled in the Sinaloan municipalities of Concordia, Cosalá, Elota, Escuinapa, Mazatlán, Rosario, and San Ignacio. [33] Approximately 1,265 schools were also closed along the northern and southern coasts of Jalisco. [34] [35]
Approximately 200,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Nayarit and Sinaloa. [27] About 40,000 of those people [36] utilized more than 2,900 shelters, assisted by the Mexican Army, Navy, and emergency crews. Businesses and industries in the storm's path closed. Mazatlán International Airport closed during the storm, as did nearby hotels. [37] Thirty neighborhoods in the municipality of Mazatlán were evacuated due to the risk of flooding. [38] Emergency authorities evicted over 4,250 people in coastal cities from their homes and established 58 shelters before the storm hit. [39] In Jalisco, 2,500 people were evacuated ahead of Willa and 23 temporary shelters were established. [40] [41] At least 6,000 people were evacuated from Escuinapa due to the proximity of Willa. [42] Fonden, Mexico's natural disaster relief agency, allocated 99.2 US tons (90 metric tons) of food for affected people in advance of Willa's landfall. [43] The Mexican Navy set up a collection center for food and supplies in La Paz, Baja California Sur, in the hours before the storm. [44]
Hurricane Willa and Tropical Storm Vicente together forced the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship to divert to San Diego, California, on October 23. [45] Despite the threat that Willa posed, Petróleos Mexicanos, the state-owned petroleum company, announced that it intended to maintain normal operations in Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Sonora and Sinaloa. [46] All economic activity and public transportation were suspended in Sinaloa as a precaution. [26] Roads and businesses were closed in Nayarit, with officials requesting that citizens remain in their homes. [27] In order to prevent damage to water pumping equipment during the storm, service was shut off to 27 neighborhoods in Tepic, Nayarit, on October 23. [47] The Jalisco state Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT) employed 400 people to observe 322 bridges and over 1,365 mi (2,197 km) of roads. The SCT also readied 60 machines, including backhoes, in case of landslides. The number of road crews available was increased from 22 to 40 during the storm. [35]
The eye of Hurricane Willa crossed over two of the offshore Islas Marías, producing wind gusts of 112 mph (180 km/h), and average sustained winds of 89 mph (143 km/h) for a 15-minute period; the latter value equated to 1-minute sustained winds of around 100 mph (160 km/h). [1] The Marías Islands Prison was damaged during the storm; palm trees were uprooted, roofs collapsed, and barbed wire was ripped from fences. [48]
On the Mexican mainland, storm chasers from iCyclone reported a minimum pressure of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg) where Willa's eye moved ashore, suggesting a landfall intensity of 115 mph (185 km/h). Willa produced hurricane-force wind gusts as well as high waves and a significant storm surge in the immediate vicinity of where it moved ashore. Willa dropped heavy rainfall in western Mexico, peaking at 15.39 in (391 mm) in San Andrés Milpillas in northern Nayarit. Cihuatlán in western Jalisco reported 13.17 in (335 mm) of rainfall. Intense precipitation occurred in six Mexican states –Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. [1] The storm left 96,200 people without power in four states: Sinaloa, where it moved ashore, as well as Nayarit, Durango, and Michoacán. [37]
Hurricane Willa's landfall in Sinaloa left two municipalities isolated –Escuinapa and Rosario. [49] [50] High winds damaged homes and knocked down trees, which blocked roads. In Escuinapa, the storm damaged the general hospital, causing part of the roof and walls to collapse. Soldiers evacuated 35 patients from the hospital. [51] The city also experienced power outages and had no potable water. [37] Damage in the city was estimated at Mex$6 billion (US$306 million). [52] Willa severely damaged 72 schools in Escuinapa and 19 in Rosario. [43] Approximately 42,000 acres (17,000 ha) of crops were damaged across seven municipalities. [53]
The Trébol II community dam was damaged as a result of floodwaters from Willa. [54] Power lines were knocked down along a road to Tecapan, causing the entire town to lose power. In Rosario, the Baluarte River rapidly rose after at least 7.4 in (188 mm) of rain fell, [55] sweeping away stone extraction machinery and transportation trucks. [56] The destruction of infrastructure left multiple communities in Rosario without drinking water and at least 33 mi (53 km) of unusable roads. [57] The river flood also damaged approximately 12 sq mi (3,000 ha) of crops in Rosario. [58] In Mazatlán, heavy rainfall caused rockslides and increased the water level of the Camarón lagoon. [59]
Rank | Cyclone | Season | Damage | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Otis | 2023 | $12–16 billion | [60] |
2 | Manuel | 2013 | $4.2 billion | [61] |
3 | Iniki | 1992 | $3.1 billion | [62] |
4 | Odile | 2014 | $1.25 billion | [63] |
5 | Agatha | 2010 | $1.1 billion | [64] |
6 | John | 2024 | $1 billion | [65] |
7 | Hilary | 2023 | $915 million | [66] |
8 | Willa | 2018 | $825 million | [67] |
9 | Madeline | 1998 | $750 million | [68] |
10 | Rosa | 1994 | $700 million | [69] |
In the state of Nayarit, Willa inflicted at least Mex$10 billion (US$510 million) in damage. [70] [71] A state of emergency was declared for 12 municipalities. [72] The hurricane left about 100,000 people homeless statewide. [73] A hydro-agricultural system in the northern part of the state was damaged, resulting in Mex$700 million (US$35.7 million) in losses. [74] Heavy rainfall caused rivers to crest more than 36 ft (11 m) above normal, forcing the municipalities of Tecuala, Acaponeta, Tuxpan, San Blas, and Huajicori to be evacuated. [72] A total of 12,000 people were forced into shelters statewide. [75]
Heavy rain from Willa led to severe flooding along the San Pedro River and the Acaponeta River, affecting 180,000 people. [76] Four people drowned along the San Pedro River –three in Huajicori, and one in San Vicente in Tuxpan. [77] The only road to the El Valle de la Urraca community was washed out, leaving its inhabitants without outside communication. Strong winds and floodwaters wiped out local shrimp farms. One farmer lost 22.0–33.1 US tons (20–30 metric tons) or about Mex$2 million (US$82,000). [78] In Tuxpan, the overflow of the San Pedro River caused sewage leaks. Three out of four of the municipality's public schools suffered major flood damage; another 42 schools in the state of Nayarit experienced considerable damage. [79] Tens of thousands of individuals in the municipality experienced flooding up to 6.6 ft (2 m) in height. [80] The flooding from the rivers also caused a shortage of potable water in the northern portion of the state; [78] water service was not restored for at least two weeks after the end of the storm. [71] The municipal government lost 2.2 US tons (2 metric tons) of food aid after the warehouse the food was stored in was flooded. [81] Firefighters worked overnight to rescue people trapped on their roofs. [82]
Acaponeta was similarly severely impacted as record-breaking flooding occurred along the Acaponeta River, with a flood crest of 40.0 ft (12.20 m) and peak discharge of 600,000 cu ft/s (17,000 m3/s) recorded. Several vehicles were trapped by floodwaters along Federal Highway 68, particularly at the Acaponeta toll booth. Civil Protection and Mexican Navy personnel conducted at least 80 land and water rescues. [75] Flooding also forced the closure of Federal Highway 15D between Acaponeta and La Guásima. [83]
Willa brought heavy rains and flooding to parts of Michoacán, [84] causing streams and rivers to overflow. The Cointzio Dam reached 98% capacity, and water and sewage systems in the state capital, Morelia, reached full capacity. Waters reached 3.3 ft (1 m) deep in some parts of the capital, which inundated 40 neighborhoods and entered hundreds of homes. The Jacarandas neighborhood had to be evacuated due to odor from the sewage system. Three shelters were set up to house affected city residents. [85] [86] [87] Damage in Morelia was estimated at Mex$35 million (US$1.79 million). [88] In Atapaneo, a landslide caused a freight train to derail, injuring two people. [84] [87] Rains from the storms raised water levels on Lake Chapala. [89]
Strong waves from Willa overturned a boat; two brothers drowned off the coast of Colima while scattering a relative's ashes. The bodies were recovered by local officials and the Mexican Navy. [90] Due to the unsettled weather produced by Willa and the nearby Tropical Storm Vicente, numerous oil tankers were unable to unload fuel at ports in Manzanillo and Tuxpan. Combined with the closure of a major pipeline that transports petroleum to Guadalajara, this caused a fuel shortage in Jalisco, with some 500 gas stations being affected. [91]
Heavy rains in neighboring Jalisco flooded streets and overflowed streams. In Melaque, infantry soldiers evacuated their headquarters when it flooded. Strong currents broke a fence for a crocodile habitat in La Manzanilla, allowing hundreds to escape. [92] At least a dozen houses in Punta Pérula were flooded with up to 24 in (60 cm) of water. Strong waves occurred off the coast of Puerto Vallarta; landslides and fallen trees were also reported there. [34] Heavy rainfall killed two people in Nogales, Sonora, where floods also swept away cars and entered homes and businesses. [93] The Papaloapan and Coatzacoalcos Rivers in Veracruz overflowed their banks due to the excessive rainfall. [94]
In the municipality of Mezquital in the state of Durango, a power worker was shocked and fell to his death amid the storm's heavy rainfall. [95] At least five towns flooded in the state. Landslides in Pueblo Nuevo municipality, Durango, damaged 35 homes across 10 rural communities. [96] The Durango-Mazatlán highway was partially closed from October 23–24. Schools across the state were also canceled until October 25. [97] [98] Losses in Lerdo, Durango, reached about Mex$140 million (US$7.14 million). [99] A total of 200 people were evacuated from the area surrounding the Santa Elena dam due to overflowing water. [97]
A total of ten landslides occurred in the state of Hidalgo as a result of heavy rainfall from Willa and the nearby Tropical Storm Vicente. In municipalities of the Huasteca and Sierra regions, highway accesses were blocked by boulders and tree limbs. Two people were hospitalized due to a landslide in Zacualtipán. Seven people were evacuated after a house was buried in Calnali. Roads in Huehuetla and Tenango were impassable due to landslides. Landslides affected the Tlanchinol-Hueyapa state highway in Tepehuacán, the Pachuca-Huejutla highway in the municipality of Mineral del Chico, and the Mexico City–Tampico federal highway. [100]
On October 24, the remnants of Hurricane Willa brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. [1] The area had already been saturated from excessive rainfall within the past month. A Flash Flood Warning was issued for Galveston County, in southeastern Texas. [101] [102] Rainfall reached 4.9 in (120 mm) at the Scholes International Airport at Galveston; [1] this broke the city's daily rainfall record, surpassing the previous record set in 1883. [103] Flash flooding from the rains collected in bayous, covering streets and flooding some cars. [104] [105] Floodwaters entered the dorms at the Texas A&M University at Galveston. [106]
Mexican authorities sent 45,000 people to assist with relief efforts. Included in this group were soldiers, sailors, doctors, and nurses. [107] [72] Plan DN-III-E, a disaster relief and rescue plan, was activated in the states of Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. About 11,000 soldiers were deployed in the municipalities of Culiacán, El Rosario, Escuinapa, Elota, and Mazatlán in Sinaloa to help with transporting civilians to four shelters. In Sinaloa, approximately 1,820 people were provided with 1,400 food rations. Soldiers also worked to repair window damage at the Teacapan Hospital as well as remove trees from roads. Around 590 soldiers were deployed in Durango. In Colima, 262 soldiers were deployed to monitor the level of the Marabasco River. In Michoacán, officials mobilized 500 soldiers to help families impacted by the hurricane. One hundred and eighteen soldiers evacuated 154 people in the cities of Melaque, Puerto Vallarta, and Tomatlán in Jalisco. [108] [109] [87] The government of Mexico City established a collection center for food, cleaning products, and hygiene products; this center was located in Mexico City's Pushkin Garden. [110] About 3,000 meals were distributed by the Mexican Army in a community kitchen in Tuxpan, Nayarit, as a part of Plan DN-III-E. [80] The National System for Integral Family Development (DIF) sent 1,764 US tons (1,600 metric tons) of aid, including pantries, galvanized sheet metal, and bottled water, to areas affected by Willa. [111]
The Marine Plan was activated in Sinaloa and Nayarit, resulting in the dispatch of 1,800 soldiers, 163 vehicles, 8 aircraft, 15 surface units, 6 ships, and 3 mobile kitchens. The Mexican Red Cross sent 48,502 US tons (44,000 metric tons) of supplies to Nayarit and Sinaloa; the aid delivered to Nayarit pantries consisted of 19,842 US tons (18,000 metric tons), including a thousand hygiene kits. Approximately 28,660 US tons (26,000 metric tons) of goods were sent to Sinaloa pantries. Additionally, collection centers were opened in Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Guanajuato. Around 178 people were evacuated from Cristo Rey and El Rosario in Escuinapa. Soldiers distributed 500 food portions using a mobile kitchen in the Nayarit municipality of Tecuala. [112] [113] The Tuxpan municipal government provided 1,400 US tons (1,270 metric tons) of food, water, supplies, clothing, and medicine to affected individuals. [81] Officials in Nayarit sent 76 vehicles with medical supplies to reach the most affected residents in northern Nayarit. [77] The Jalisco State Civil Fire and Protection Unit used aquatic vehicles to transport supplies to the Tuxpan Municipality and assess damage in Nayarit. [114] For one week, officials made Federal Highway 15D –a toll road –free of charge, and instead collected more than Mex$1.1 million (US$57,000) in donations for the residents left homeless by the hurricane. [115] The office of the Attorney General of the Republic sent 12.1 US tons (11 metric tons) of food as well as four doctors and 500 kg (1,100 lb) of medicine to Sinaloa and Nayarit. [116] Save the Children sent 800 hygiene kits to children in Nayarit. They also were operating 17 dining facilities for nearly 3,000 children, but were forced to close four located in Isla del Bosque, Escuinapa, and Teacapán due to power outages. [117]
Petróleos Mexicanos reported gasoline shortages in the state of Guanajuato following Hurricane Willa. The shortages were blamed on infrastructural damage and an increase in fuel theft caused by Willa. The unloading of fuel was not possible in some ports. Additionally, gasoline pipelines had to be shut down due to theft; the Tula-Salamanca section was closed for repairs as a result of damage left by thieves. [118]
Sinaloa Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel declared a state of emergency for seven municipalities. [119] Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, then coach of the Dorados de Sinaloa, hosted a charity dinner on November 5 to provide financial support for individuals affected by Willa and Tropical Depression Nineteen-E. [120]
In Nayarit, the National Civil Protection Coordination designated the municipalities of Acaponeta, El Nayar, Huajicori, Rosamorada, Ruiz, Santiago Ixcuintla, Tecuala, and Tuxpan as disaster areas. [121] In the municipality of Escuinapa in Sinaloa, it was reported that over 2,000 families were living under plastic roofs six months after the storm. Additionally, Mayor Emmet Soto Grave stated that there were many irregularities in the damage reported by the previous government. In total, 144 houses had been counted as damaged by the government from October 23–28, while more than 2,000 were actually affected. After President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had federal officials visit the city, more inaccuracies regarding damage to roads, educational institutions, and areas of tourism were discovered. [122] In the time after Willa's dissipation, the National Water Commission reported that the Baluarte River had seen a major increase in chromium, mercury, and nickel concentrations a month after the storm. [123] Throughout the region, mango orchards were severely damaged by wind gusts from Willa, resulting in a 50–75% decrease in production. This decrease equated to a loss of about 77,162 US tons (70,000 metric tons) or 13,300 ha (32,900 acres) of mango. [124] [125] At least 1,200 farmers required loans due to significant losses. [126] The mayor of Mazatlán sent 60 workers, two cranes, and three dump trucks to Escuinapa. [59] Several months after the storm, the communities of Maloya and Buenavista in El Rosario were mostly without potable water. [57]
During the first week after the storm, at least 180,000 people had no outside communication or food as a result of the flood of the San Pedro and Acaponeta rivers. [78] Some people had to rid their entire house of river mud without assistance. [127] Those affected by Willa in Nayarit said they felt "abandoned by the authorities" after only receiving help from disaster organizations for the month and a half following the storm. Schools in Tuxpan did not have classes during that time as the facilities were unusable. The town of Los Sandovales in Acaponeta was destroyed, resulting in many of the families there becoming homeless. [128] [129] In the weeks after Willa, the state government of Nayarit announced that it was unable to provide funds towards reconstruction as a result of the state's bankruptcy. [130] [73] In 2019, the Mexican Government announced that it would provide Mex$250 million (US$10.4 million) for the reconstruction of Nayarit municipalities, which was slated to begin in February. [131] Approximately Mex$23.19 million (US$961,000) in federal relief funds were distributed to the municipalities of Tuxpan, Rosamorada, Tecuala, Acaponeta, and Huajicori; 533 families in these municipalities were awarded Mex$30,000 (US$1,250) to cover damage to their homes. Two federal officials gave another 30 families Mex$120,000 (US$5,000) after their homes were completely destroyed. [132] The federal government also allocated Mex$2 billion (US$83.6 million) for the reconstruction of public infrastructure, such as highways, bridges, schools, and hospitals. [131] The cost to repair public infrastructure in Nayarit was evaluated at approximately Mex$2.2 billion (US$92 million); [133] it also was estimated that Mex$39 million (US$1.6 million) was required to cover the costs of mud removal from main roads in the state. [134] Coppel, a nationwide department store, was given Mex$66 million (US$2.8 million) by the federal government; this allowed Coppel to provide 4,400 families with Mex$15,000 (US$625) vouchers for furniture and appliances. [133] In Sinaloa, people used their own funds to rebuild their homes due to lack of resources from Fonden. The state delivered Mex$2 million (US$101,000) worth of rotten mattresses to victims and allowed them access to pantries in exchange for support letters. Support ranging between Mex$1,800–10,000 (US$90–$500) was provided to small businesses. [135] A Sinaloan state official said that it could take three years for Fonden to allocate funds for repairs. [136] Fonden had authorized a total of Mex$84.7 million (US$4.3 million) to cover damage resulting from Willa; however, no repair work had commenced in the months after the storm and the whereabouts of the funds were unknown. [57] A few days after President López Obrador's tour of Sinaloa, including the city of Mazatlán, Fonden allotted Mex$510 million (US$23.9 million) for damage in Escuinapa and El Rosario. [137] [138]
Hurricane Madeline was a costly tropical cyclone whose remnants caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Texas in October 1998. The final tropical cyclone of the 1998 Pacific hurricane season, Madeline originated from a tropical wave that emerged off the coast of Africa on September 25, 1998. The wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean and crossed over Central America on October 5 or 6. Gradually, the system intensified and was classified as a tropical depression on October 16, a tropical storm later that day, and a hurricane on October 17. The storm reached peak winds of 85 mph (137 km/h) about 95 miles (153 km) southwest of San Blas, Nayarit, and after 18 hours it subsequently began to weaken. Although Madeline never made landfall, numerous rainbands affected the Mexican coast causing no known damage or fatalities. The remnant moisture moved north and contributed to flooding in central Texas, which killed 31 people and caused $750 million in damage.
Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in October 1994. The pre-Rosa tropical depression formed on October 8 before degenerating the next day. It reformed on October 10 and steadily strengthened as it approached Mexico. Ultimately peaking as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale right before landfall, Rosa was the final hurricane, nineteenth tropical storm, and second-last tropical cyclone of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season.
The 2013 Pacific hurricane season was an above average Pacific hurricane season with 21 tropical cyclones forming. Of these, 20 became named storms – 18 in the Eastern Pacific basin, and 2 in the Central Pacific basin. Of the 18 named storms in the east, 9 became hurricanes, with one, Raymond, becoming the season's only major hurricane. In the central, neither named storm became a hurricane. It was also a below-normal season in terms of Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), as many of its systems were weak and short-lived. The season officially began on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific and started on June 1 in the Central Pacific; both ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical development occurs in these North Pacific basins. The first cyclone, Tropical Storm Alvin, formed on May 15, and the last, Tropical Storm Sonia, dissipated on November 4. It was below average only Category 3 storm was since 1981.
Hurricane Erick brought moderate impacts to the western coastline of Mexico in July 2013, and was the last of a succession of four Category 1 hurricanes to affect the Pacific coast of Mexico early in the 2013 Pacific hurricane season. The fifth named storm and fourth hurricane of the annual season, Erick originated from a tropical wave that moved off the western coast of Africa on June 18. The wave tracked swiftly westward with little development, emerging into the eastern Pacific on July 1. As a result of favorable environmental conditions, the wave developed into a tropical depression on July 4, and further into Tropical Storm Erick at 0000 UTC on July 5. Steered generally west-northwest, Erick intensified into a Category 1 hurricane and reached its peak intensity with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) on July 6. Its proximity to land and track over increasingly cooler waters caused the storm to deteriorate into a tropical storm the following day, though it remained at such intensity until degenerating into a remnant low early on July 9. The remnant circulation dissipated a few hours later, southwest of Baja California Sur.
Hurricane Manuel was a weak but 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.
Hurricane Odile is tied for the most intense landfalling tropical cyclone in the Baja California Peninsula during the satellite era. Sweeping across the peninsula in September 2014, Odile inflicted widespread damage, particularly in the state of Baja California Sur, in addition to causing lesser impacts on the Mexican mainland and Southwestern United States. The precursor to Odile developed into a tropical depression south of Mexico on September 10 and quickly reached tropical storm strength. After meandering for several days, Odile began to track northwestward, intensifying to hurricane status before rapidly reaching its Category 4 hurricane peak intensity on September 14. The cyclone slightly weakened before making landfall near Cabo San Lucas with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). Odile gradually weakened as it tracked across the length of the Baja California Peninsula, briefly crossing into the Gulf of California before degenerating into a remnant system on September 17. These remnants tracked northeastward across the Southwestern United States before they were no longer identifiable on September 19.
Hurricane Patricia was the most powerful tropical cyclone on record worldwide in terms of maximum sustained winds and the second-most intense on record worldwide in terms of pressure, with a minimum atmospheric pressure of 872 mbar, behind Typhoon Tip's 870 mbar. Originating from a sprawling disturbance near the Gulf of Tehuantepec, south of Mexico, in mid-October 2015, Patricia was first classified a tropical depression on October 20. Initial development was slow, with only modest strengthening within the first day of its classification. The system later became a tropical storm and was named Patricia, the twenty-fourth named storm of the annual hurricane season. Exceptionally favorable environmental conditions fueled explosive intensification on October 22. A well-defined eye developed within an intense central dense overcast and Patricia grew from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours—a near-record pace. On October 23, the hurricane achieved its record peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h). This made it the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Western Hemisphere and the strongest globally in terms of one-minute maximum sustained winds.
Hurricane Newton was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on the Baja California Peninsula at hurricane strength since Hurricane Odile in 2014. The fifteenth tropical depression, fifteenth named storm and ninth hurricane of the 2016 Pacific hurricane season, Newton formed from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico on September 4, 2016. Moving northwards through an environment conducive for additional development, Newton rapidly strengthened, reaching hurricane strength on the following day. Newton made landfall on the Baja California Peninsula just below peak strength on the same day. Interaction with the mountainous terrain of the peninsula caused some slight weakening, but Newton remained a hurricane until it entered the Gulf of California, at which time increasing wind shear caused Newton to weaken at a faster pace, and the system made landfall in Sonora late on September 6 as a strong tropical storm. The cyclone continued to rapidly weaken over the rugged terrain of Sonora, and it degenerated into a remnant low just south of the Mexico–United States border on September 7. The remnants of Newton dissipated early on the following day.
The 2018 Pacific hurricane season was one of the most active Pacific hurricane seasons on record, producing the highest accumulated cyclone energy value on record in the basin. The season had the fourth-highest number of named storms – 23, tied with 1982. The season also featured eight landfalls, six of which occurred in Mexico. The season officially began on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the Central Pacific; they both ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific basin. However, tropical cyclone formation is possible at any time of the year, as illustrated when the first tropical depression formed on May 10, five days prior to the official start of the season.
Hurricane Bud was a tropical cyclone that brought winds and severe flooding to Mexico throughout its existence as a tropical cyclone in June 2018. It was the second named storm, hurricane, and major hurricane of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season. Bud originated from a tropical wave that departed from Western Africa on May 29. It traveled across the Atlantic Ocean before entering the Northeast Pacific Ocean late on June 6. The system moved towards the northwest and steadily organized, becoming a tropical depression on June 9 and Tropical Storm Bud early the next day. Favorable upper-level winds, ample moisture aloft, and warm sea surface temperatures allowed the storm to rapidly intensify to a hurricane late on June 10, and further to a major hurricane on the following day. Bud ultimately peaked the next morning with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 943 mbar. Its track curved more northward while the storm rapidly succumbed to the effects of upwelling. Bud made landfall on Baja California Sur as a minimal tropical storm early on June 15. On the next day, land interaction and increasing wind shear caused Bud to degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone. It opened up into a trough of low-pressure on June 16. The remnants of Bud moved towards the Southwestern United States, bringing tropical moisture and gusty winds to the region.
Tropical Depression Nineteen-E was a weak yet costly tropical cyclone that caused significant flooding throughout Northwestern Mexico and several states within the United States in September 2018. The storm was also the first known tropical cyclone to form over the Gulf of California. Nineteen-E originated from a tropical wave that left the west coast of Africa on August 29 to 30. It continued westward, crossed over Central America, and entered the northeastern Pacific Ocean by September 7. It then meandered to the southwest of Mexico for the next several days as it interacted with a mid-to-upper level trough. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continued to track the disturbance for the next several days as it traveled northward. A surface trough developed over the Baja California peninsula on September 18. Despite disorganization and having close proximity to land, the disturbance developed into a tropical depression in the Gulf of California on September 19, after having developed a circulation center and more concentrated convection. The system peaked with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mbar.
Tropical Storm Vicente was an unusually small tropical cyclone that made landfall as a tropical depression in the Mexican state of Michoacán on October 23, 2018, causing deadly mudslides. The 21st named storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, Vicente originated from a tropical wave that departed from Africa's western coast on October 6. The wave traveled westward across the Atlantic and entered the Eastern Pacific on October 17. The disturbance became better defined over the next couple of days, forming into a tropical depression early on October 19. Located in an environment favorable for further development, the system organized into Tropical Storm Vicente later that day.
Tropical Storm Hernan was a short-lived tropical cyclone that brought widespread flooding and destructive mudslides to southwestern Mexico in late August 2020. Hernan was the thirteenth tropical cyclone and eighth named storm of the 2020 Pacific hurricane season. The system developed from a low-pressure area to the southwest of Mexico on August 26, as a low-end tropical storm. Moving generally northward and paralleling the west coast of Mexico, Hernan was hindered by a high wind shear environment and only slightly strengthened. The cyclone achieved its peak intensity around 06:00 UTC on August 27 with maximum sustained winds of 70 km/h (45 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,001 mbar (29.6 inHg). Passing just offshore of the state of Jalisco, Hernan turned west and degenerated to a remnant low on August 28. The low passed near the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula later that day and dissipated shortly thereafter.
Tropical Storm Ivo was a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall to five states in Mexico, causing severe flooding during August 2019. The tenth tropical cyclone and ninth named storm of the 2019 Pacific hurricane season, Ivo arose from a low-pressure area that spawned south of Guatemala on August 16. The low-pressure system gradually organized over the next several days as it tracked west-northwestward. The system coalesced into a tropical depression early on August 21 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Ivo several hours later. Located within a favorable environment of moist air and warm sea surface temperatures, the cyclone quickly intensified, peaking the next day with 1-minute maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a pressure of 990 mbar (29.23 inHg). Increasing wind shear caused the storm's intensification to level off later that day, as the system turned towards the north-northwest. Ivo passed by Clarion Island midday on August 23, generating winds of 60 mph (100 km/h) on the island. Wind shear caused Ivo to significantly degrade in structure and intensity during the next couple of days. Cold sea surface temperatures, as well as dry and stable air, caused the cyclone to degenerate into a remnant low early on August 25. The low meandered over the eastern Pacific before opening up into a trough of low pressure early on August 27.
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.
Hurricane Nora was a large tropical cyclone that caused significant damage across the Pacific Coast of Mexico in late August 2021. The fourteenth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, Nora was first monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as an area of low pressure near the coast of Mexico. On August 24, the low organized into tropical depression, but struggled to develop further due to wind shear in its surrounding environment. The depression eventually intensified into a tropical storm and was named Nora as it tracked to the west-northwest. Nora peaked as a strong Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (140 km/h) on August 28. The storm then grazed the west coast of Mexico and made landfall two separate times, first in the state of Jalisco, followed by neighboring Nayarit. Nora weakened as it interacted with land, dissipating on August 30 just inland of the Mexican coast.
Hurricane Pamela was a Category 1 Pacific hurricane that caused significant damage across several northwestern and western states of Mexico in October 2021. The sixteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, the storm originated from a tropical wave over the Atlantic basin, over the Caribbean Sea. It then quickly crossed into the Pacific Ocean, where it slowly consolidated, with a low-pressure area forming from the wave on October 9. Environmental conditions in the area were proved favorable for tropical cyclogenesis and developed into Tropical Depression Sixteen-E on the next day. It then organized further into Tropical Storm Pamela on that night. Despite wind shear and dry air affecting the cyclone, Pamela continued to strengthen and became a hurricane on October 12 before weakening back to a tropical storm as it continued to succumb onto these factors. However, as the system turned towards the coast of Mexico, Pamela restrengthened to a low-end hurricane before making landfall over Estacion Dimas, Sinaloa on 15:00 UTC on October 13 before rapidly weakening inland. It then dissipated over Coahuila on the early hours on the next day.
Hurricane Orlene was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused minor damage to the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 2022. The cyclone was the sixteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season. Orlene originated from a low-pressure area off the coast of Mexico. Moving towards the north, Orlene gradually strengthened, becoming a hurricane on October 1 and reaching its peak intensity the following day with winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Orlene made landfall just north of the Nayarit and Sinaloa border, with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). Soon afterward, Orlene rapidly weakened and became a tropical depression, eventually dissipating over the Sierra Madre Occidental late on October 4.
Hurricane Roslyn was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 2022. The nineteenth named storm, tenth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Roslyn formed on October 20, from an area of low pressure that developed off the southwestern coast of Mexico. The system moved west-northwestward, paralleling the coast, where it became a hurricane at 00:00 UTC, on October 22, and, within 18 hours rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Roslyn made landfall on October 23 near Santa Cruz in northern Nayarit, at 11:20 UTC with 120 mph (195 km/h) winds. Inland, Roslyn weakened quickly to a tropical storm, and then dissipated over east-central Mexico on October 24.
Hurricane Norma was one of four tropical cyclones to strike the Pacific Coast of Mexico in October 2023. The seventeenth tropical depression, fourteenth named storm, ninth hurricane and seventh major hurricane of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, Norma developed from an area of low pressure that formed off the coast of southern Mexico on October 15, 2023. The disturbance gradually organized as it progressed westward parallel to the coast, and developed into Tropical Storm Norma on October 17. Turning northward, Norma rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane as it continued to parallel the west coast of Mexico. Less favorable environmental conditions caused Norma to gradually weaken as it approached the Baja California peninsula. The cyclone made landfall on the Mexican state of Baja California Sur as a Category 1 hurricane. Norma continued to weaken as it crossed the state. The storm emerged over the Gulf of California on October 22, and made landfall as a tropical depression the following day on the state of Sinaloa. Norma quickly dissipated as it moved inland over Mexico.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service .