Tropical Storm Dalila (2007)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Dalila was a tropical storm that was active in the 2007 Pacific hurricane season
2007 Pacific hurricane season
The 2007 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started on May 15, 2007 in the eastern Pacific, designated as the area east of 140°W, and on June 1, 2007 in the central Pacific, which is between the International Date Line and 140°W,...

. The seventh 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...

 and the fourth named tropical storm
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...

 of the season, Dalila came from a tropical wave that entered the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 on July 17, 2007. It became a tropical depression five days later. It remained disorganized at times and eventually reached a peak intensity of 60 miles per hour on July 25 before degenerating into a remnant low two days later on July 27.

Meteorological history

An area of disturbed weather was first noticed a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec is a large body of water on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southeastern Mexico, at . Most of the hurricanes that form in the Eastern Pacific organize in or near this body of water...

 on the morning of July 19. 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...

 noted the possibility of some slow development of the system over the following 48 hours. 24 hours later, the circulation of the disturbance started to become more consolidated and better defined, leading the NHC to declare the possibility of the formation of a tropical depression. Late on July 21, 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...

 initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Seven-E. while 400 miles south of Manzanillo, Colima
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...

, 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 tropical depression initially moved west-northwestward for the first day of its existence until it turned northwestward around a mid-level ridge centered over Central 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 shear that had been preventing the tropical depression
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...

 from strengthening began to decrease late July 23 and the depression strengthened into a tropical storm
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...

 and was named Dalila while 350 miles southeast of 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 :...

 in 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...

. Thereafter, the shear continued to weaken and Dalila reached a peak intensity of 60 miles per hour while 50 miles southeast of Socorro Island. The center of the storm passed over or near the island during the early hours of July 25 while still at peak intensity. The next day, Dalila began to weaken as it passed over cooler waters. Dalila weakened into a tropical depression on the 27th and degenerated into a remnant low twelve hours later. The remnant low countined to move west-northwestward over the next few days before slowing down and dissipating while 700 miles south of the Baja California peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...

 on July 29.

Impact

Even though Dalila passed over 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 :...

 with winds of 60 miles per hour, there was no reported deaths or damages. As the storm weakened, it produced rough seas and heavy rains over parts of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...

. Rainfall in excess of 400 mm (15.7 in) fell in parts of western Mexico on July 22. The heavy rains triggered flooding 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...

 that killed 11 people. Three people drowned in a van after driving into a flooded road. Another van was also washed away by floodwaters, leading to the drowning of the driver. The fifth fatality also resulted from drowning near a hydroelectric plant. Four people were killed after a train derailed on a flooded track. Five other people were injured by the crash, two of which were critically injured. Flood waters up to 2 m (6.6 ft) covered numerous roads, stranding 45 vehicles and resulting in 21 accidents. Fifty homes were destroyed by the storm, leaving 200 people homeless. The Government of Mexico supplied the affected residents with special care, blankets, and cardboard sheets.

See also

  • Other tropical cyclones of the same name
  • Timeline of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season
    Timeline of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season
    The 2007 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. This timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipation...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK