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Hurricane Fausto (2008)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Fausto was a strong Category 1 hurricane that had only minor effects on land during its life over the eastern Pacific basin
. The seventh tropical depression, sixth named storm
, and third hurricane of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
, Fausto formed out of a tropical wave
on July 16. The storm gradually strengthened as it moved towards the west-northwest, becoming a minimal hurricane two days later. On July 19, Fausto turned towards the northwest as it continued to strengthen. The next day, while passing between the Mexican islands of Clarion
and Socorro
, the hurricane reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar
(hPa
; 28.85 inHg).
Fausto steadily weakened throughout the following two days as it moved over progressively cooler waters. By July 21, the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm and a tropical depression the next day. Early on July 23, the depression lacked deep convection
and degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
. The low persisted for another day before dissipating over open waters. Hurricane Fausto had little effect on land, despite passing close to the islands of Clarion and Socorro where high winds, reaching hurricane-force on Socorro, were recorded. Moderate rainfall from the outer bands
of the storm amounted to 1.9 in (50 mm) in the Mexican state of Sinaloa
.
that moved off the eastern coast of Africa on July 4. Little development occurred as the wave traversed the Atlantic basin
. It entered the eastern Pacific basin
on July 12 after crossing Central America
and began to show signs of development the next day. The system westward movement became slightly erratic on July 14 as development slowed. The following day, the system became increasingly organized and a tropical depression, which was designated 07-E, formed about 550 mi (890 km) southeast of Acapulco
, Mexico
. The depression maintained an area of deep convection
around the center of circulation
and was located within an area of moderate wind shear
. An area of high pressure
located over the southwestern United States
was forecast to steer the system towards the northwest for most of its existence. A mid-level ridge
located to the north of the depression caused it to rapidly travel towards the west at 23 mph (37 km/h) for most of July 16.
Shortly after being designated as a depression, 17-E was upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Fausto. Despite being partially exposed from convection, the system featured several banding features
which supported a wind intensity of 40 mph (65 km/h). As a large cyclone, Fausto slowly intensified, with convection consolidating around the center the next day. The combination of relaxing wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures allowed the storm to intensify. Later that day, the center of Fausto became exposed but a large band of deep convection surrounded the exposed low. Early on July 18, a banding eye feature
began to develop in the southern portion of the storm. Around this time, forward motion slowed as it began to turn towards the northeast. Later that day, a partial eyewall
began to develop, indicating that Fausto had strengthened into a hurricane with winds reaching 75 mph (120 km/h).
Shortly after being declared a hurricane, the eye started to appear on visible satellite imagery. With low wind shear and warm waters, further intensification was anticipated. Very cold cloud tops with temperatures as low as –112°F (–80°C) surrounded the developing eye allowing the storm to intensify. Strengthening stopped for most of July 19 and the first half of July 20. That day, Fausto strengthened slightly as a ragged eye formed while the storm passed between the islands of Clarion
and Socorro
. At this time, the hurricane reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar
(hPa
; 28.85 inHg). Operationally, Fausto was assessed to have reached its peak intensity several hours later as a minimal Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) as the eye became better defined. However, the storm was located over 75°F (24°C) waters, causing it to gradually weaken along with diminishing convective activity. Later that day, Fausto was downgraded to a tropical storm and further weakened to a tropical depression the next day. With little or no remaining convection, the system degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
as it traveled towards the west-northwest. The remnants of Fausto dissipated on July 24, while located about 1,065 mi (1,715 km) west of Cabo San Lucas
.
did not forecast Fausto to affect any major land areas during its existence. As such, no tropical cyclone advisories
were issued. The outer bands
of Fausto produced moderate rainfall over portions of Sinaloa
, Mexico, peaking at 1.9 in (50 mm). Several hours before the center of Fausto passed between Clarion Island
and Socorro Island
, sustained winds on Clarion were recorded at 64 mph (103 km/h) with gusts to 94 mph (151 km/h). Nearby Socorro recorded sustained winds of 79 mph (129 km/h) with gusts to 109 mph (175 km/h). Little or no damage was recorded on the islands. The hurricane-force winds reported on Socorro was recorded as Fausto made its closest approach to the island about 115 mi (185 km) to the southwest. However, due to the distance from the center of Fausto, these winds are suspected to be overestimated. Along the coastline of Mexico, waves up to 8 ft (2.4 m) were recorded in relation to Fausto.
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
. The seventh tropical depression, sixth named storm
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
, and third hurricane of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
2008 Pacific hurricane season
The 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008....
, Fausto formed out of a tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
on July 16. The storm gradually strengthened as it moved towards the west-northwest, becoming a minimal hurricane two days later. On July 19, Fausto turned towards the northwest as it continued to strengthen. The next day, while passing between the Mexican islands of Clarion
Clarion Island
Isla Clarión, formerly called Santa Rosa, is the second largest, westernmost and most remote of the Revillagigedo Islands, west of Socorro Island and over from the Mexican mainland and an area ². It has three prominent peaks. The westernmost and tallest peak, Monte Gallegos, is high...
and Socorro
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
, the hurricane reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 28.85 inHg).
Fausto steadily weakened throughout the following two days as it moved over progressively cooler waters. By July 21, the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm and a tropical depression the next day. Early on July 23, the depression lacked deep convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
and degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
. The low persisted for another day before dissipating over open waters. Hurricane Fausto had little effect on land, despite passing close to the islands of Clarion and Socorro where high winds, reaching hurricane-force on Socorro, were recorded. Moderate rainfall from the outer bands
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
of the storm amounted to 1.9 in (50 mm) in the Mexican state of Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Fausto were in a westward-traveling tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that moved off the eastern coast of Africa on July 4. Little development occurred as the wave traversed the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It entered the eastern Pacific basin
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
on July 12 after crossing Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and began to show signs of development the next day. The system westward movement became slightly erratic on July 14 as development slowed. The following day, the system became increasingly organized and a tropical depression, which was designated 07-E, formed about 550 mi (890 km) southeast of Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The depression maintained an area of deep convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
around the center of circulation
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
and was located within an area of moderate wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
. An area of high pressure
High pressure area
A high-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. Winds within high-pressure areas flow outward due to the higher density air near their center and friction with land...
located over the southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was forecast to steer the system towards the northwest for most of its existence. A mid-level ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
located to the north of the depression caused it to rapidly travel towards the west at 23 mph (37 km/h) for most of July 16.
Shortly after being designated as a depression, 17-E was upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Fausto. Despite being partially exposed from convection, the system featured several banding features
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
which supported a wind intensity of 40 mph (65 km/h). As a large cyclone, Fausto slowly intensified, with convection consolidating around the center the next day. The combination of relaxing wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures allowed the storm to intensify. Later that day, the center of Fausto became exposed but a large band of deep convection surrounded the exposed low. Early on July 18, a banding eye feature
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
began to develop in the southern portion of the storm. Around this time, forward motion slowed as it began to turn towards the northeast. Later that day, a partial eyewall
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
began to develop, indicating that Fausto had strengthened into a hurricane with winds reaching 75 mph (120 km/h).
Shortly after being declared a hurricane, the eye started to appear on visible satellite imagery. With low wind shear and warm waters, further intensification was anticipated. Very cold cloud tops with temperatures as low as –112°F (–80°C) surrounded the developing eye allowing the storm to intensify. Strengthening stopped for most of July 19 and the first half of July 20. That day, Fausto strengthened slightly as a ragged eye formed while the storm passed between the islands of Clarion
Clarion Island
Isla Clarión, formerly called Santa Rosa, is the second largest, westernmost and most remote of the Revillagigedo Islands, west of Socorro Island and over from the Mexican mainland and an area ². It has three prominent peaks. The westernmost and tallest peak, Monte Gallegos, is high...
and Socorro
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
. At this time, the hurricane reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 28.85 inHg). Operationally, Fausto was assessed to have reached its peak intensity several hours later as a minimal Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) as the eye became better defined. However, the storm was located over 75°F (24°C) waters, causing it to gradually weaken along with diminishing convective activity. Later that day, Fausto was downgraded to a tropical storm and further weakened to a tropical depression the next day. With little or no remaining convection, the system degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
as it traveled towards the west-northwest. The remnants of Fausto dissipated on July 24, while located about 1,065 mi (1,715 km) west of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
.
Preparations and impact
The National Hurricane CenterNational Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
did not forecast Fausto to affect any major land areas during its existence. As such, no tropical cyclone advisories
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
were issued. The outer bands
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
of Fausto produced moderate rainfall over portions of Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Mexico, peaking at 1.9 in (50 mm). Several hours before the center of Fausto passed between Clarion Island
Clarion Island
Isla Clarión, formerly called Santa Rosa, is the second largest, westernmost and most remote of the Revillagigedo Islands, west of Socorro Island and over from the Mexican mainland and an area ². It has three prominent peaks. The westernmost and tallest peak, Monte Gallegos, is high...
and Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
, sustained winds on Clarion were recorded at 64 mph (103 km/h) with gusts to 94 mph (151 km/h). Nearby Socorro recorded sustained winds of 79 mph (129 km/h) with gusts to 109 mph (175 km/h). Little or no damage was recorded on the islands. The hurricane-force winds reported on Socorro was recorded as Fausto made its closest approach to the island about 115 mi (185 km) to the southwest. However, due to the distance from the center of Fausto, these winds are suspected to be overestimated. Along the coastline of Mexico, waves up to 8 ft (2.4 m) were recorded in relation to Fausto.
See also
- 2008 Pacific hurricane season2008 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008....
- Timeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane seasonBelow is the Timeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season, documenting all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. The 2008 Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, 2008, and will last until November 30. For...
- Other storms named Fausto