Tropical Storm Kiko (2007)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Kiko
Type=Tropical Storm
Year=2007
Basin=EPac
Image location=Kiko 20 oct 2007 1800Z.jpg


Formed=October 15, 2007
Dissipated=October 23, 2007
1-min winds=60
Pressure=991
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=15 direct, 9 missing
Areas=Mexico
Hurricane season=2007 Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Storm Kiko was a strong tropical storm that killed at least 15 people in Mexico when a ferry, caught in the storm's rough surf, capsized. Kiko peaked just below hurricane intensity and was forecast to make landfall along the Mexican coastline. The 15th and final tropical cyclone and the 11th named storm of the 2007 Pacific hurricane season, Kiko developed out of a tropical wave that formed off the coast of Africa on September 26 and traversed the Atlantic. The wave entered the Pacific Ocean on October 8 and spawned Tropical Depression 15-E on October 15. The depression drifted to the south over the next day before briefly being declared Tropical Storm Kiko. By October 18 Kiko was forecast to make landfall along the Mexican coastline as a moderate tropical storm. However, the cyclone turned to the west and reached its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) on October 20. The tropical storm slowly weakened to a remnant low by October 24 and completely dissipated on October 27 without making landfall.cite web|author=Mainelli|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-EP152007_Kiko.pdf]

Meteorological history

A tropical wave exited the western coast of Africa on September 26. The wave quickly developed, spawning Tropical Storm Melissa on September 28. At the same time, part of the wave separated from the developing tropical depression and continued through the Atlantic, entering the Pacific Ocean on October 8. A broad area of low pressure accompanied by showers and thunderstorms developed along the wave 275 mi (440 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico. However, the low remained disorganized because of strong upper-level winds. On October 13, those winds weakened slightly, allowing the low to become better organized 400 mi (650 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The low developed enough convection late on October 14 to be declared "Tropical Depression 15-E". [cite web|author=Rhome|title=Tropical Depression 15-E Discussion Number 1|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.001.shtml?]

The depression was embedded within a broad, low-level cyclone with weak steering currents that caused it to drift southward for the next 30 hours. On October 16, strong easterly wind shear exposed the center of the depression. However, a curving convective band developed around the system, and satellites detected winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). This prompted the National Hurricane Center to upgrade the depression to "Tropical Storm Kiko" as it drifted 430 mi (695 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. [cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 7|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.007.shtml?] The intensification was short-lived, and Kiko was downgraded to a tropical depression six hours later when the center separated from diminishing convection. The storm was forecast to re-intensify slightly over the next five days while drifting to the east-northeast. [cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Depression Kiko Discussion Number 8|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.008.shtml?]

On October 17, the storm was upgraded to a tropical storm when the low became associated with deep convection. [cite web|author=Pasch|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 10|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-16|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.010.shtml?] The center remained poorly defined, and winds of tropical-storm force blew only in Kiko's southwest quadrant. Kiko was still influenced by strong easterly shear as well as weak steering currents. Over the next few days, Kiko moved slowly towards the east-northeast as a minimal tropical storm and was forecast to either brush land or to make landfall along the Mexican coast on October 19 or October 20. [cite web|author=Pasch|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 14|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.014.shtml?] However, early on October 19, Kiko turned to the northwest when a high-pressure ridge developed over Mexico. Forecasters predicted that the storm would become a strong Category 1 hurricane as it turned away from Mexico and headed to sea. [cite web|author=Blake/Avila|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 17|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.017.shtml?]

As the ridge pushed the storm away from the coast, weaker wind shear and warm sea-surface temperatures allowed Kiko to gradually intensify. The storm reached its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) 991 mbar (hPa; 29.28 inHg) late on October 20 while located 175 mi (280 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. As it moved away from the coast, an eye began to form. [cite web|author=Beven|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Discussion Number 24|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.024.shtml?] Shortly thereafter, it moved into a more hostile environment with high southerly shear and more stable air. On October 22, Kiko was downgraded to a tropical depression as strong wind shear removed convection from the storm's center and exposed the low. [cite web|author=Rhome|title=Tropical Depression Kiko Discussion Number 32|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.032.shtml?] As the depression moved over a dryer and more hostile area, it slowly weakened. It lost almost all convection and degenerated to a remnant low on October 23, and the National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory that night. [cite web|author=Mainelli|title=Tropical Depression Kiko Discussion Number 36|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.discus.036.shtml?] The remnant low moved west before dissipating on October 27 over open waters.

Preparations and impact

On October 18, a tropical storm warning was issued along the Mexican coastline from Zihuatanejo, Mexico to Manzanillo, Mexico, and a tropical storm watch extended northward to La Fortuna, Mexico, as Kiko was forecast to make landfall in that region on October 21. Above-normal tides and dangerous waves were expected along the coast. [cite web|author=Beven|title=Tropical Storm Kiko Public Advisory Number 15|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/ep15/ep152007.public.015.shtml?] Rainfall totals of 4 in (100 mm) to 7 in (180 mm) were possible over southwestern Mexico with isolated totals reaching 10 in (250 mm). As a precaution, Mexican officials closed the Port of Captaincy and advised residents to avoid low-lying areas that might flood.cite web|author=Lazaro Cardenas, Mich.|title=‘Kiko’ toma fuerza, podría convertirse en huracán|year=2007|publisher=Correo|accessdate=2008-08-04|url=http://www.correo-gto.com.mx/notas.asp?id=44864]

However, a ridge over Mexico prevented the storm from coming ashore, and Kiko caused far less damage than forecast. As Kiko traveled parallel to the coast, heavy rain affected the region for two days. [cite web|author=Brent Jones|title=Western Mexico Braces for Tropical Storm Kiko|year=2007|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2007-10-19-kiko-mexico_N.htm] In Kiko's rough seas off the coast of Mexico, a ship capsized with 25 passengers and crew. Only 2 people survived; 15 bodies were recovered, and 9 passengers were never found. [cite web|author=AFP|title=Fifteen dead, 9 missing as boat sinks|year=2007|publisher= Agence France-Presse|accessdate=2008-07-27|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22622921-5003402,00.html] Since, except for the capsized ship, the storm's effects were relatively small, the name "Kiko" was not retired and is included on the list of names for the 2013 Pacific hurricane season.

ee also

*Other tropical cyclones named Kiko
*

References