Hurricane Lorena (2019)

Hurricane Lorena was a strong tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides to Southwestern Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula in September 2019. Lorena was the thirteenth named storm and seventh and final hurricane of 2019 Pacific hurricane season. Lorena formed from the stronger of two disturbances off the coast of Mexico. The disturbance closest to Mexico became Tropical Storm Lorena, while the other disturbance became Tropical Storm Mario. Lorena strengthened in a favorable environment, and made landfall as a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane in southwestern Mexico on September 18, but weakened back to a tropical storm due to land interaction. However, after moving back over water between Baja California Sur and mainland Mexico, Lorena re-strengthened into a hurricane, and reached its peak intensity with 85 mph winds and a minimum barometric pressure of 985 millibars. Lorena made a second landfall on Baja California Sur, and quickly weakened thereafter. Lorena degenerated to a remnant low over the Gulf of California. The remnant low moved inland over Mexico and quickly dissipated.

Not to be confused with Hurricane Lorenzo (2019).
Hurricane Lorena
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Lorena skirting Baja California Sur on September 20, with Tropical Storm Mario visible to the southwest
FormedSeptember 17, 2019
DissipatedSeptember 22, 2019
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h)
Lowest pressure985 mbar (hPa); 29.09 inHg
Fatalities1 direct
Damage$910,000 (2019 USD)
Areas affectedWestern Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Arizona
Part of the 2019 Pacific hurricane season

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

At 15:00 UTC September 11, the NHC noted the possibility of a low pressure region forming off of the Central American coast.[1] At 6:00 UTC September 14, a low pressure area formed and slowly developed and by 15:00 UTC September 17, it developed into Tropical Storm Lorena off of the coast of Mexico.[2][3] Lorena gradually moved northwest towards the coast of Mexico while strengthening and by 3:00 UTC September 19, Lorena reached an initial peak intensity of 75 mph.[4] Interaction with land caused Lorena to weaken below hurricane status by 15:00 UTC September 19.[5][6] Lorena continued moving west-northwestward and regained hurricane status by 15:00 UTC September 20.[7] Lorena would intensify further and peak at 21:00 UTC September 20 with winds at 85 mph and a pressure of 985 millibars.[8] By midday on September 21, Lorena's structure began to deteriorate. Due to increasing wind shear and weakening caused by the mountainous terrain of Baja California, Lorena degenerated into a tropical depression by mid-morning on September 22, becoming a remnant low by that evening.[9]

Tropical Storm Mario (left) and Lorena (right) situated off the Mexican coast on September 19

Preparations and Impact

Guerrero and Michoacán

On Wednesday, September 18, Lorena greatly affected the states of Guerrero and Michoacán. There were reports of heavy rainfall and downed trees.[10][11]

Colima and Jalisco

Lorena moved very close to shore and interacted with land in the states of Colima and Jalisco.[12] Flooded streets, washed out roads, minor slides in 10 municipalities, and dozens of downed trees were reported. Power was knocked out in some areas. Governor of Colima, José Ignacio Peralta, stated that nearly 8 inches of rain fell over the course of 24 hours, and more than 7,400 acres of crops such as bananas and papayas were damaged statewide. He also reported that no one had died due to Lorena.[13] Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, stated on Twitter that Civil Protection services and the navy are attending to people in need, but there have been no reports of loss of life. The Cuixmala River broke its banks in the municipality of La Huerta and flooded agricultural land.[14][15] Damage in Jalisco were calculated at 17.7 million pesos (US$910,000).[16]

Baja California Sur

Once Lorena moved along the southwestern coast of Mexico, the government of Mexico issued a hurricane watch for the southern coast of Baja California as the storm was expected to make landfall there as a hurricane.[17] Once it moves away from the coast and started moving closer to Baja California Sur, people started to barricade doors and windows and pull their boats from the ocean in preparation for Lorena's inevitable impacts.[18] Government officials closed down schools and will convert it to shelters if conditions warrants.[19] As Lorena started to move parallel to the peninsula's coast, authorities in Los Cabos said that 787 people have taken refuge in 18 shelters; however, many tourists did not take precautions and still traveled to Los Cabos despite Lorena.[13] Many flights in and out of Los Cabos International Airport were canceled on Friday.[20]

The Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil declared a state of emergency in La Paz and Los Cabos, Baja California Sur on September 22.[21]

In Los Cabos, a father and son were swept out to sea by a large wave. The father ultimately drowned while trying to save his son.[22]

Arizona

The remnants of Hurricane Lorena brought locally heavy rain to parts of Arizona on September 22–24. Precipitation peaked at 4 to 6 in (100 to 150 mm) near Phoenix. On September 23, a supercell thunderstorm produced a brief EF0 tornado in New River in Maricopa County.[23]

See also

References
  1. Patrick Burke; Eric Blake (September 11, 2019). "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  2. Robbie Berg (September 13, 2019). "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  3. Eric Blake (September 17, 2019). "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  4. Robbie Berg (September 18, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Discussion Number 7". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  5. Lixion Avila (September 19, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Discussion Number 8". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  6. Daniel Brown (September 19, 2019). "Tropical Storm Lorena Discussion Number 9". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  7. Lixion Avila (September 20, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Discussion Number 13". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  8. Lixion Avila (September 20, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Discussion Number 14". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  9. Lixion Avila (September 21, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Discussion Number 18". www.nhc.noaa.gov. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  10. "The Latest: Hurricane Humberto is closing in on Bermuda". WTOP. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  11. "The Latest: Hurricane Humberto edges closer to Bermuda". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  12. "Flights Canceled At John Wayne Airport As Hurricane Lorena Nears Cabo San Lucas". CBS Los Angeles. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  13. "Hurricane Lorena nears Mexico's resort-studded Los Cabos". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  14. "Lorena downgraded but hurricane watch in effect for Baja". Mexico News Daily. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  15. "Huracán 'Lorena' toca tierra en Playa Pérula, Jalisco, como categoría 1". El Financiero (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  16. "SIOP reconoce daños en carreteras tras paso de 'Lorena' y 'Narda'". Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  17. Daniel Brown (September 19, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena Intermediate Advisory Number 8A". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  18. Staff (September 20, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena bears down on Mexico's Los Cabos". FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  19. Yaron Steinbuch (September 20, 2019). "Hurricane Lorena lashes Mexico tourist destination in wake of Imelda". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  20. Cohen, Max. "Hurricane Lorena headed toward popular Mexican tourist destination Cabo San Lucas". USA Today. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  21. "Tras paso de 'Lorena' declaran emergencia en La Paz y Los Cabos" [Emergency declared in La Paz and Los Cabos following 'Lorena'], El Segundero (in Spanish), Sep 22, 2019, retrieved Sep 22, 2019
  22. "Israeli dies in Mexico while saving son from drowning". Times of Israel. September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  23. "Preliminary Storm Report for 23 September 2019". National Weather Service Forecast Office in Phoenix, Arizona. September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
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