Hurricane Ileana (2006)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Ileana


Image location=Hurricane Ileana 23 aug 2006 1750Z.jpg
Basin=EPac
Year=2006
Type=hurricane
Formed= August 21, 2006
Dissipated= August 27, 2006
1-min winds=105
Pressure=955
Da

Fatalities=1 direct
Areas= Socorro Island, Mexico
Hurricane season= 2006 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Ileana was one of six major hurricanes in the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. Ileana formed on August 21 near Acapulco, Mexico as Tropical Depression Nine-E. The depression strengthened rapidly, becoming Hurricane Illeana in 48 hours. The storm reached peak winds of convert|120|mph|km/h and subsequently began to weaken. Illeana dissipated on August 27 near Baja California. During the storm's existence, heavy rainfall was reported in Mexico along with one fatality in Cabo San Lucas.

Meteorological history

Hurricane Ileana originated from a tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on August 8.cite web | author = Eric S. Blake | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ileana| date = October 4, 2006 | accessdate=2007-12-01 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-EP102006_Ileana.pdf] With little associated convection, it traversed the Atlantic Ocean for about a week. On August 16 it entered the Eastern North Pacific and convection begn to increase. On August 19, the wave developed a low–level low pressure system, warranting the first Dvorak numbers to be issued. As the low continued west-northwestward, the disorganized system gained thunderstorm activity on August 20. Deep convection increased greatly in the low, and it became a tropical depression on August 21 near Acapulco.cite web | author = Eric S. Blake & James Franklin | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Ileana discussion #1| date = August 21, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep10/ep102006.discus.001.shtml?]

Vertical wind shear in the depression's general area was low, allowing for development. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Ileana six hours after forming.cite web | author = Eric S. Blake & James Franklin | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Ileana discussion #2| date = August 21, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep10/ep102006.discus.002.shtml?] Illeana continued to strengthen, becoming a hurricane in 24 hours, and a major hurricane 12 hours after that.cite web | author = Rhome | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Ileana discussion #6| date = August 22, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep10/ep102006.discus.006.shtml?] cite web | author = Richard Pasch | publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Ileana discussion #8| date = August 23, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep10/ep102006.discus.008.shtml?] Ileana passed to the south of Socorro Island on August 23 as a Category 3 hurricane. Ileana then reached its peak intensity of convert|120|mph|km/h on the same day, mainting it overnight. Ileana then commenced into a slow weakening phase on August 24, when it encountered cooler waters. With wind shear still minimal, the weakening was protracted, becoming a minimal Category 1-hurricane on August 25. Sea-surface temperatures reached low enough on August 26, causing Ileana to be downgraded to a tropical storm.cite web | author = Lixion A. Avila and Eric S. Blake| publisher = National Hurricane Center | title = Hurricane Ileana discussion #20| date = August 26, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ep10/ep102006.discus.020.shtml?]

As temperatures reached convert|24|C|F on August 26, what was left of the deep convection in Ileana diminished. Illeana became a tropical depression on the morning of August 27, degenerating into a remnant low at 1800 UTC. The remnant low continued for two more days, moving slowly westward with winds of convert|25|mph|km/h. The low dissipated on August 29.

Preparations and impact

As Ileana was heading north along the Mexican coastline, slight rainfall was recorded along the coast.cite web | author = TRMM data | publisher = NASA | title = Rainfall from Ileana | date = 2007 | accessdate=2007-12-01 | url = http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/trmm_rain/Events/tc_rain/epac/2006/precip_ILEANA.jpg] There were also reports of hurricane force winds on Socorro Island, when Ileana passed the south on August 23. One fatality was reported when a man died from heavy surf near Cabo San Lucas.cite web | author = Sign on San Diego| title = The week in Mexico| date = August 23, 2006 | accessdate=2007-12-01 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060827/news_1n27mexweek.html] When Ileana struck Mexico on August 23, there were winds recorded up to convert|120|mph|km/h.cite web | author = Mark Saunders| title = Intense hurricane Ileana| date = August 23, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://www.alertnet.org/thefacts/reliefresources/TSR/200610E_10E.htm] With the prediction of Category 4 conditions, people were told not to make life or death decisions. Northwest Mexico also got heavy rainfall from the Category 3 storm.cite web | author = Americas News| title = Hurricane Ileana brings heavy rainfall to Mexico| date = August 23, 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-20 | url = http://news.monstersandcritics.com/americas/news/article_1193876.php/Hurricane_Ileana_brings_heavy_rainfall_to_Mexico]

See also

*Other storms named Ileana
*2006 Pacific hurricane season

References

External links

* The NHC's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/refresh/ILEANA+shtml/ archive on Hurricane Ileana] .