Hurricane Lorenzo (2007)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Lorenzo was a rapidly developing
tropical cyclone
that struck the Mexican
state of Veracruz
in late September 2007. The twelfth named storm
and fifth hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
, it formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico
from a tropical wave
. After meandering for two days without development, the storm began a steady westward track as its structure became better organized. In an 18 hour period, Lorenzo's winds increased from 35 mph (55 km/h) to 80 mph (130 km/h), or from a tropical depression to a hurricane. On September 28 it struck near Tecolutla, Veracruz
, a month after Hurricane Dean
affected the same area, before it quickly dissipated over land.
The most significantly affected area was Veracruz, where damage reached over $1 billion pesos
($92 million 2007 USD
). Most of it came from road damage in the state's northern portion, although there were also hundreds of damaged houses. Between Veracruz and neighboring Hidalgo, there were 123,320 people affected across 112 municipalities. Overall there were six deaths in the country, one in Veracruz and five in Puebla. In the latter state, a family of three perished in a landslide.
that exited the coast of Africa on September 11. After moving across the tropical Atlantic Ocean, it traversed much of the Caribbean Sea before developing an area of thunderstorms on September 21. The system developed a low pressure area
on September 23 after the northern portion of the wave broke off and crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
. Initially, a Hurricane Hunters
flight was scheduled to investigate the system, although the low became disorganized over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico due to high wind shear
. However, the wind shear decreased, and late on September 25, another Hurricane Hunters flight indicated the development of a closed low-level circulation
. Based on that observation, along with sufficient persistence of the thunderstorms, the system developed into Tropical Depression Thirteen about 190 mi (305 km) east of Tampico
, Tamaulipas
.
Upon developing, the depression was located in an area of weak steering currents, resulting in an erratic movement generally to the south. In its formative stages, the depression executed a small loop. As it did so, it moved into an area of very warm waters and decreasing wind shear. The depression's convection gradually organized, although the winds were slower to increase. An anticyclone
became established over the system, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Lorenzo at around 1200 UTC
on September 27. At the time, it was located about 150 mi (240 km) east of Tuxpan, Veracruz, moving steadily westward under the influence of a building ridge
to its east. As it approached the coast, Lorenzo rapidly intensified
unexpectedly, and within 12 hours of attaining tropical storm status it strengthened into a hurricane.
Hurricane Lorenzo quickly developed a closed eyewall
, which was observed on radar and provided a peak intensity estimate of 80 mph (130 km/h) at 0000 UTC on September 28. The cyclone maintained vigorous and symmetric convection across the center, although the structure deteriorated slightly before Lorenzo crossed the coast near Tecolutla, Veracruz
at 0500 UTC that day, with winds estimated around 75 mph (120 km/h). After making landfall, the hurricane rapidly weakened to tropical depression intensity. Progressing inland, the circulation became difficult to locate as the convection diminished to rainbands along the coast. Within 19 hours after moving ashore, the circulation of Lorenzo dissipated, therefore ending its duration as a tropical cyclone.
from Palma Sola to La Cruz in Veracruz. About 14 hours before landfall, a tropical storm warning was put into place from Palma Sola to Cabo Rojo
, which in turn was upgraded to a hurricane warning six hours later. Mexico's Civilian Protection officials declared a "red alert" for much of the state of Veracruz. Along the coast of Veracruz, officials canceled school classes. Officials opened 315 shelters in Veracruz, along with six in neighboring Hidalgo, which housed 45,164 people during the storm. The government of Veracruz provided buses for people to transport from their houses to the shelters. Ports in Tecolutla, Tuxpan
and Nautla
were forced to close. Lorenzo's formation caused gas prices to rise due to its potential to disrupt oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Lorenzo made landfall in Veracruz, the same region of east-central Mexico as Hurricane Dean
did one month prior. The hurricane primarily affected small fishing villages along the coast, where strong winds knocked down power lines, leaving about 85,000 people without electricity. To prevent the danger of fallen wires, officials shut off the power grid in several municipalities in northern Veracruz. The winds also destroyed the roofs of several houses in Nautla. In addition to the high winds, Lorenzo dropped heavy rainfall along the coast and further inland, peaking at 12.83 in (325.9 mm) in El Raudal, Veracruz. The rains caused flash flood
ing and mudslides that killed at least four people, including a family of three in Puebla state. Landslides also closed portions of three highways. In some locations, floodwaters reached about 1 foot (300 mm) in depth. The combination of winds and rains damaged 169 houses in Puebla, while in Hidalgo, the San Lorenzo River
overflowed its banks and forced the evacuation of over 200 people. Overflown rivers in Veracruz forced about 25,000 people to leave their houses. Along the Cazones River
, more than 1,000 houses were flooded, resulting in local police officials to assist in evacuations. Damage in Veracruz was estimated at $1 billion pesos ($92 million 2007 USD), much of it from road damage in the northern portion of the state.
Overall, the hurricane affected 123,320 people across Veracruz and Hidalgo, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency in 112 municipalities. The declaration allowed the usage of emergency resources for the affected people. There were a total of six deaths in the country, five of which in Puebla. By about three days after the storm, all schools were reopened. The Mexican government distributed food, water, and construction materials for the areas most affected in Veracruz. Following the storm, about 500 power workers were dispatched in Veracruz to restore electricity in the affected areas.
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...
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...
that struck the Mexican
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...
state of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
in late September 2007. The twelfth 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 fifth hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season
2007 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season that produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 tropical storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the...
, it formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
from 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...
. After meandering for two days without development, the storm began a steady westward track as its structure became better organized. In an 18 hour period, Lorenzo's winds increased from 35 mph (55 km/h) to 80 mph (130 km/h), or from a tropical depression to a hurricane. On September 28 it struck near Tecolutla, Veracruz
Tecolutla, Veracruz
Tecolutla is a town and municipality on the eastern coast of the state of Veracruz in Mexico. It is the closest beach to Mexico City and much of its economy is based on attracting people from this city, as it is only a four or five-hour drive. It is also the northern end of a tourist corridor...
, a month after Hurricane Dean
Hurricane Dean
The name Dean was used for five tropical cyclones in the Northern Atlantic Ocean:*1983's Tropical Storm Dean, which struck the coast of Virginia, causing minor erosion and flooding...
affected the same area, before it quickly dissipated over land.
The most significantly affected area was Veracruz, where damage reached over $1 billion pesos
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
($92 million 2007 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....
). Most of it came from road damage in the state's northern portion, although there were also hundreds of damaged houses. Between Veracruz and neighboring Hidalgo, there were 123,320 people affected across 112 municipalities. Overall there were six deaths in the country, one in Veracruz and five in Puebla. In the latter state, a family of three perished in a landslide.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Lorenzo were from a 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 exited the coast of Africa on September 11. After moving across the tropical Atlantic Ocean, it traversed much of the Caribbean Sea before developing an area of thunderstorms on September 21. The system developed a 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...
on September 23 after the northern portion of the wave broke off and crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. Initially, a Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
flight was scheduled to investigate the system, although the low became disorganized over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico due to high 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...
. However, the wind shear decreased, and late on September 25, another Hurricane Hunters flight indicated the development of a closed low-level circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
. Based on that observation, along with sufficient persistence of the thunderstorms, the system developed into Tropical Depression Thirteen about 190 mi (305 km) east of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
.
Upon developing, the depression was located in an area of weak steering currents, resulting in an erratic movement generally to the south. In its formative stages, the depression executed a small loop. As it did so, it moved into an area of very warm waters and decreasing wind shear. The depression's convection gradually organized, although the winds were slower to increase. An anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
became established over the system, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Lorenzo at around 1200 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on September 27. At the time, it was located about 150 mi (240 km) east of Tuxpan, Veracruz, moving steadily westward under the influence of a building ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to its east. As it approached the coast, Lorenzo rapidly intensified
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...
unexpectedly, and within 12 hours of attaining tropical storm status it strengthened into a hurricane.
Hurricane Lorenzo quickly developed a closed 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...
, which was observed on radar and provided a peak intensity estimate of 80 mph (130 km/h) at 0000 UTC on September 28. The cyclone maintained vigorous and symmetric convection across the center, although the structure deteriorated slightly before Lorenzo crossed the coast near Tecolutla, Veracruz
Tecolutla, Veracruz
Tecolutla is a town and municipality on the eastern coast of the state of Veracruz in Mexico. It is the closest beach to Mexico City and much of its economy is based on attracting people from this city, as it is only a four or five-hour drive. It is also the northern end of a tourist corridor...
at 0500 UTC that day, with winds estimated around 75 mph (120 km/h). After making landfall, the hurricane rapidly weakened to tropical depression intensity. Progressing inland, the circulation became difficult to locate as the convection diminished to rainbands along the coast. Within 19 hours after moving ashore, the circulation of Lorenzo dissipated, therefore ending its duration as a tropical cyclone.
Preparations and impact
About 26 hours before landfall, the Mexican government issued a tropical storm 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 Palma Sola to La Cruz in Veracruz. About 14 hours before landfall, a tropical storm warning was put into place from Palma Sola to Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo (Mexico)
Cabo Rojo is a barrier of quartzite sand deposited adjacent to the coast of the Mexican state of Veracruz, about south of the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas. It encloses the brackish lagoon called Laguna de Tamiahua...
, which in turn was upgraded to a hurricane warning six hours later. Mexico's Civilian Protection officials declared a "red alert" for much of the state of Veracruz. Along the coast of Veracruz, officials canceled school classes. Officials opened 315 shelters in Veracruz, along with six in neighboring Hidalgo, which housed 45,164 people during the storm. The government of Veracruz provided buses for people to transport from their houses to the shelters. Ports in Tecolutla, Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
and Nautla
Nautla
Nautla is a settlement in the Mexican state of Veracruz.Nautla comes from the Nahuatl Naui, four; and from tlan, that means place; so it is known as Four Places....
were forced to close. Lorenzo's formation caused gas prices to rise due to its potential to disrupt oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Lorenzo made landfall in Veracruz, the same region of east-central Mexico as Hurricane Dean
Hurricane Dean
The name Dean was used for five tropical cyclones in the Northern Atlantic Ocean:*1983's Tropical Storm Dean, which struck the coast of Virginia, causing minor erosion and flooding...
did one month prior. The hurricane primarily affected small fishing villages along the coast, where strong winds knocked down power lines, leaving about 85,000 people without electricity. To prevent the danger of fallen wires, officials shut off the power grid in several municipalities in northern Veracruz. The winds also destroyed the roofs of several houses in Nautla. In addition to the high winds, Lorenzo dropped heavy rainfall along the coast and further inland, peaking at 12.83 in (325.9 mm) in El Raudal, Veracruz. The rains caused flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
ing and mudslides that killed at least four people, including a family of three in Puebla state. Landslides also closed portions of three highways. In some locations, floodwaters reached about 1 foot (300 mm) in depth. The combination of winds and rains damaged 169 houses in Puebla, while in Hidalgo, the San Lorenzo River
San Lorenzo River (Mexico)
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
overflowed its banks and forced the evacuation of over 200 people. Overflown rivers in Veracruz forced about 25,000 people to leave their houses. Along the Cazones River
Cazones River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
, more than 1,000 houses were flooded, resulting in local police officials to assist in evacuations. Damage in Veracruz was estimated at $1 billion pesos ($92 million 2007 USD), much of it from road damage in the northern portion of the state.
Overall, the hurricane affected 123,320 people across Veracruz and Hidalgo, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency in 112 municipalities. The declaration allowed the usage of emergency resources for the affected people. There were a total of six deaths in the country, five of which in Puebla. By about three days after the storm, all schools were reopened. The Mexican government distributed food, water, and construction materials for the areas most affected in Veracruz. Following the storm, about 500 power workers were dispatched in Veracruz to restore electricity in the affected areas.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- 2007 Atlantic hurricane season2007 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2007 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season that produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 tropical storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the...
- Timeline of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane seasonThis timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation during the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. The season officially began on June 1, 2007, and ended on November 30, although Subtropical Storm Andrea and Tropical...
- List of storms in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season