Hurricane Lorenzo (2007)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Lorenzo
Type=hurricane
Year=2007
Basin=Atl
Image location=Lorenzo 27 sept 2007 1920Z.jpg


Formed=September 25, 2007
Dissipated=September 28, 2007
1-min winds=70
Pressure=990
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=6 direct
Areas=Central Mexico
Hurricane season=2007 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Lorenzo was the twelfth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed in the Bay of Campeche off the east coast of Mexico where it rapidly intensified into a hurricane. It made landfall in central Mexico early on September 28 as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm dissipated over land on September 28, but not after causing $92 million (2007 USD, $95 million (2008 USD)) in damage to Mexico and claiming six lives. Lorenzo peaked at 80 mph (130 km/h) in wind speed on September 27.

Meteorological history

On September 21, an area of convection developed in the western Caribbean Sea in association with a trough of low pressure.cite web|author=Knabb|year=2007|title=September 21 11:30 a.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709211529.txt] Convection increased and a broad area of low pressure developed on September 22 as the convection moved northwestward towards the Yucatán Peninsula.cite web|author=Beven|year=2007|title=September 22 5:30 a.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709220928.txt] cite web|author=Avila and Blake|year=2007|title=September 22 5:30 p.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709222127.txt] On September 23 the area of low pressure moved over the Yucatán Peninsula and was producing thunderstorms from the southern Gulf of Mexico to the northwestern Caribbean Sea.cite web|author=Knabb and Rhome|year=2007|title=September 23 5:30 a.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709230929.txt] Over the next few days the broad area of low pressure was moving erratically over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico but convection remained limited due to strong upper-level winds. cite web|author=Franklin and Brown|year=2007|title=September 24 5:30 p.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709242124.txt] By September 25, upper-level winds started to become more favorable for tropical cyclone formation and by that morning visible satellite imagery indicated that a tropical depression could be forming about 180 mi (290 km) east of Tampico, Tamaulipas.cite web|author=Beven|year=2007|title=September 25 5:30 a.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709250923.txt] cite web|author=Avila|year=2007|title=September 25 11:30 a.m. Tropical Weather Outlook|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200709251516.txt]

During the evening of September 25 a United States Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft found that the area of low pressure had developed into a tropical depression.cite web|author=Franklin|year=2007|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion 1|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al13/al132007.discus.001.shtml?] The depression tracked slowly to the south and southwest into the Bay of Campeche. On September 26 convection increased and the depression was getting closer to being a tropical storm.cite web|author=Pasch|year=2007|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion 4|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al13/al132007.discus.004.shtml?] At 0300 UTC September 27 the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm watch for parts of the Mexican Gulf Coast as the depression was forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm.cite web|author=Franklin|year=2007|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion 6|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2007-09-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al13/al132007.discus.006.shtml?] The depression became Tropical Storm Lorenzo around midday. Similar to Hurricane Humberto two weeks before, Lorenzo rapidly intensified as it approached central Mexico and it was upgraded to a hurricane that evening, less than seven hours after being named. Lorenzo made landfall in central Mexico south-southwest of Tuxpan as a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph (120 km/h) winds on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Lorenzo rapidly weakened, and dissipated later that afternoon as the final advisory was issued.cite web|author=James L. Franklin|title=Hurricane Lorenzo Tropical Cyclone Report|year=2007|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-19|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL132007_Lorenzo.pdf]

Preparations

On September 27, a tropical storm watch was issued for the central Mexican. After an extension, the watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning. As the storm began to rapidly intensify, the warning was further modified to a hurricane warning. A separate tropical storm warning was placed into effect from Palma Sola to Veracruz. By 1500 UTC on September 28, all tropical cyclone advisories were discontinued as Lorenzo moved inland. Mexico's Civilian Protection officials declared a "red alert" for much of the state of Veracruz. [cite web|author=Xinhua News Agency|title=Mexico issues "red alert" against tropical storm Lorenzo|year=2007|publisher=People's Daily Online|accessdate=2008-08-19|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/91341/6273439.html]

Along the coast of Veracruz, officials canceled school classes. In at least 30 communities, authorities made evacuations orders and set up around 60 shelters. In total, about 100,000 people were evacuated to storm shelters from the Mexican coastline. [cite web|author=Catherine Bremer|title=Hurricane Lorenzo lashes Mexican Gulf coast|year=2007|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-08-19|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29757120070928] Ports in Tecolutla, Tuxpan and Nautla were also forced to close. [cite web|author=Associated Press|title=Lorenzo becomes hurricane off Mexico|year=2007|publisher="The Tehran Times"|accessdate=2008-08-19|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=153928] The government Army and the Ministry of Marine and Navy established a plan to assist in affected areas. [Cite news | = From the author Correspondents | title = Alert in Veracruz by storm ' Lorenzo '| url = http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/450273.html | publisher = El Universal | year=2007 | accessdate = 2007-09-27|language=Spanish ]

Impact

Significant damage was reported in east-central Mexico as Lorenzo hit the area. Shacks were severely damaged by the strong winds, widespread tree damage was reported and many areas lost electricity service. Flooding was also reported as rivers quickly rose due to the heavy rain and saturated ground. Scattered landslides were also reported. The area was already cleaning up after Hurricane Dean, which hit the area in late August. [ [http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/caribbean/sfl-lorenzo,0,1653709.story?track=rss Lorenzo kills 5 in Mexico; Karen weakens in Atlantic - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com ] ] Damage in Veracruz was estimated at $1 billion (2007 MXN, $92 million 2007 USD). [cite web|author=Lev García|year=2007|title='Lorenzo' deja daños por mil millones de pesos en Veracruz|publisher=El Mañana|accessdate=2007-10-18|language=Spanish|url=http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=19035]

The government of Mexico reports six deaths attributable to Lorenzo: one in the state of Veracruz,a senior citizen who fell into a hole near his home in Pánuco, and five in Puebla, including a woman and two children in Chiconcuautla in Puebla's Sierra Norte region. At least four of the deaths were caused by flash floods or mud slides. Damage in the two states included downed trees and power lines, as well as washed out roads and flooded homes. Media reports indicate that high winds peeled the roofs off of a number of homes in the seaside town of Nautla, to the south of where the center of Lorenzo made landfall. In Puebla, 169 homes were reported damaged and landslides made many roadways impassible. In the state of Hidalgo the San Lorenzo River overflowed its banks, forcing the evacuation of over 200 people. [cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/451844.html|title=Deja Lorenzo tres muertos en Puebla|publisher=El Universal - Los Estados|date=September 28, 2007|accessdate=2008-10-09]

As the damage from Lorenzo was not regarded as significant enough to warrant retirement of the name it is included on the list of names for the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml|title=Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2008|accessdate=2008-10-09]

See also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* 2007 Atlantic hurricane season

References