Hurricane Jova (2011)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Jova was a powerful Pacific hurricane
that made landfall over Jalisco
, Mexico
. The tenth tropical depression and storm, as well as the ninth hurricane of the 2011 Pacific hurricane season
, Jova developed from an area of showers and thunderstorms
that became better organized in early October. Moving towards the west-northwest, the area became better organized, and late on October 5, the National Hurricane Center
began issuing advisories on tropical depression Ten-E. Steadily organizing, the storm was upgraded to a tropical storm later the following day, and by October 8, the storm had been classified as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
. The storm attained Category 2 hurricane status late on October 9, and after a round of rapid intensification early on October 10, the storm had become a major hurricane.
coastline. Moving slowly towards the west, the area of disturbed weather began gaining more convection, and late the following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring the disturbance, giving it a 20% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone
over the next 48 hours. Over the course of the next day, the area of low pressure became better defined, and the convection associated with the low became more consolidated. Thus, the National Hurricane Center upgraded their chances of the low becoming a tropical cyclone to 50%, the Medium category. Under favorable conditions, the area of disturbed weather continued to quickly become organized, and late on October 5, the NHC began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Ten-E, located 625 mi
(1005 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico. Embedded within a favorable environment for further strengthening, the depression slowly organized, and was upgraded to a tropical storm at 2100 UTC on October 6, while moving towards the northwest in response to a weakening Subtropical Ridge.
Moderate wind shear
affected Jova throughout the day on October 7, when the low-level circulation was mainly located just to the north of the area of deep convection. However, the wind shear decreased early on October 8, and subsequently, Jova was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale during the afternoon hours of October 8 as it drifted towards the east-northeast. Late on October 9, the storm was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane with a distinct eye feature
evident. Early the following morning, Jova began a round of rapid intensification
and became a major hurricane, with maximum sustained wind
s of 120 miles per hour (193.1 km/h). Moving towards the east, Jova reached its peak as a strong Category 3 with sustained winds of 125 mph and a pressure of 955 mbar, just below Category 4 intensity. Jova made landfall as a 100 mph Category 2 and rapidly weakened over Mexico. Shortly after landfall, Jova rapidly dissipated to a remnant low, early on October 13. Several hours later, Jova dissipated completely, as a ridge of high pressure formed directly to the storm's east.
from Punta San Telmo in southwestern Michoacán
to Cabo Corrientes
in Jalisco
, with a tropical storm watch extending further south to Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán
. Six hours later, watches were upgraded to their respective intensity warnings. A day later, a tropical storm watch was issued north of the hurricane warning area to San Blas, Nayarit
.
In Puerto Vallarta
, the port was closed. Residents boarded up shops and stayed at home and fisherman stocked up on food and water, though some people failed to prepare like they did in Hurricane Kenna
, the last major hurricane to have severe affects on the region. Hotels were deserted and shops were closed. Even though no mandatory evacuations were ordered for the city, businesses were closed and boarded up in nearby towns. Officials in Jalisco
opened up 70 shelters in 11 municipalities. The Manzanillo
port was closed; 13 cargo ships were stuck after the port closed.
after a strong current swept away the car in which she and her son were riding. In the neighboring state of Jalisco
, Hurricane Jova triggered a mudslide in the town of Cihuatlan, just inland from the coast, that swept away a home, eventually killing a 21-year-old woman and her daughter. Flooding wiped way one bridge and destroyed stretches of highways leading out of Manzanillo
. Several roads were damaged by the storm and landslides and flooding blocked three main highways connecting cities in Jalisco and Colima states.
Throughout Jalisco, losses from Jova reached 1.3 billion pesos
($96.1 million USD
) and roughly 46,280 people were affected. In Colima, preliminary losses to the tourism industry were estimated at 170 million pesos ($12.7 million USD). Infrastructural damage from the storm in Colima reached 1.283 billion pesos ($94.87 million USD).
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...
that made landfall over Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, 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 tenth tropical depression and storm, as well as the ninth hurricane of the 2011 Pacific hurricane season
2011 Pacific hurricane season
The 2011 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing, annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season officially started on May 15, 2011, for the eastern Pacific, and started on June 1, 2011, for the central Pacific, both of which ended on November 30, 2011. These dates conventionally...
, Jova developed from an area of showers and thunderstorms
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...
that became better organized in early October. Moving towards the west-northwest, the area became better organized, and late on October 5, the National Hurricane Center
National 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...
began issuing advisories on tropical depression Ten-E. Steadily organizing, the storm was upgraded to a tropical storm later the following day, and by October 8, the storm had been classified as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. The storm attained Category 2 hurricane status late on October 9, and after a round of rapid intensification early on October 10, the storm had become a major hurricane.
Meteorological History
During the evening hours of October 3, an area of showers and thunderstorms had moved off the ColombianColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
coastline. Moving slowly towards the west, the area of disturbed weather began gaining more convection, and late the following day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring the disturbance, giving it a 20% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
over the next 48 hours. Over the course of the next day, the area of low pressure became better defined, and the convection associated with the low became more consolidated. Thus, the National Hurricane Center upgraded their chances of the low becoming a tropical cyclone to 50%, the Medium category. Under favorable conditions, the area of disturbed weather continued to quickly become organized, and late on October 5, the NHC began issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Ten-E, located 625 mi
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
(1005 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico. Embedded within a favorable environment for further strengthening, the depression slowly organized, and was upgraded to a tropical storm at 2100 UTC on October 6, while moving towards the northwest in response to a weakening Subtropical Ridge.
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...
affected Jova throughout the day on October 7, when the low-level circulation was mainly located just to the north of the area of deep convection. However, the wind shear decreased early on October 8, and subsequently, Jova was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale during the afternoon hours of October 8 as it drifted towards the east-northeast. Late on October 9, the storm was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane with a distinct 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...
evident. Early the following morning, Jova began a round of rapid intensification
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
and became a major hurricane, with maximum sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s of 120 miles per hour (193.1 km/h). Moving towards the east, Jova reached its peak as a strong Category 3 with sustained winds of 125 mph and a pressure of 955 mbar, just below Category 4 intensity. Jova made landfall as a 100 mph Category 2 and rapidly weakened over Mexico. Shortly after landfall, Jova rapidly dissipated to a remnant low, early on October 13. Several hours later, Jova dissipated completely, as a ridge of high pressure formed directly to the storm's east.
Preparations
Early in Jova's duration, the National Hurricane Center predicted that it would strike southwestern Mexico as a hurricane in its five day forecast. Beginning on October 8, the NHC advised residents in Mexico to monitor Jova's path. The next day, the Mexican government issued a hurricane watchTropical 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...
from Punta San Telmo in southwestern Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
to Cabo Corrientes
Cabo Corrientes
Cabo Corrientes is a cape on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It marks the southernmost point of the Bahía de Banderas, upon which the port and resort city of Puerto Vallarta stands. The municipality in which the cape lies is also called Cabo Corrientes.Cabo Corrientes is a...
in Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, with a tropical storm watch extending further south to Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán
Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán
Lázaro Cárdenas is a port city that with its surrounding municipality is located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Michoacán. It was formerly known as Los Llanitos, but changed its name as a tribute to Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, a Michoacán-born politician who was president of Mexico from...
. Six hours later, watches were upgraded to their respective intensity warnings. A day later, a tropical storm watch was issued north of the hurricane warning area to San Blas, Nayarit
San Blas, Nayarit
San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit.-City:San Blas is a port and a popular tourist destination, located about 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, and 40 miles west of the state capital Tepic. The town has a population of...
.
In Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
, the port was closed. Residents boarded up shops and stayed at home and fisherman stocked up on food and water, though some people failed to prepare like they did in Hurricane Kenna
Hurricane Kenna
Hurricane Kenna was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico in recorded history. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season...
, the last major hurricane to have severe affects on the region. Hotels were deserted and shops were closed. Even though no mandatory evacuations were ordered for the city, businesses were closed and boarded up in nearby towns. Officials in Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
opened up 70 shelters in 11 municipalities. The Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
port was closed; 13 cargo ships were stuck after the port closed.
Impact
Eight people were killed by the storm, and six people were injured. A 71-year-old woman drowned in ColimaColima
Colima is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima....
after a strong current swept away the car in which she and her son were riding. In the neighboring state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, Hurricane Jova triggered a mudslide in the town of Cihuatlan, just inland from the coast, that swept away a home, eventually killing a 21-year-old woman and her daughter. Flooding wiped way one bridge and destroyed stretches of highways leading out of Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
. Several roads were damaged by the storm and landslides and flooding blocked three main highways connecting cities in Jalisco and Colima states.
Throughout Jalisco, losses from Jova reached 1.3 billion pesos
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
($96.1 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) and roughly 46,280 people were affected. In Colima, preliminary losses to the tourism industry were estimated at 170 million pesos ($12.7 million USD). Infrastructural damage from the storm in Colima reached 1.283 billion pesos ($94.87 million USD).
See Also
- 2011 Pacific hurricane season2011 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2011 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing, annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The season officially started on May 15, 2011, for the eastern Pacific, and started on June 1, 2011, for the central Pacific, both of which ended on November 30, 2011. These dates conventionally...
- Storms with the same name
External Links
- The NHCNational Hurricane CenterThe 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...
's advisory archive on Hurricane Jova - The NHC's graphics archive on Hurricane Jova