Hurricane Henriette takes aim at San Carlos after clobbering Baja
Hurricane Henriette is due to reach mainland Mexico later today. Having weathered a few hurricanes and tropical storms in the Guaymas and San Carlos area, I do not envy what residents of the region may expect. The channeling effect of the Gulf basin can have far-reaching effects with storm surge being experienced as far north as Puerto Penasco and El Golfo de Santa Clara. This storm surge is already being reported in the San Carlos area with surge slapping into the doors in several condominium developments. Further south, reports are coming in that the surge has breached the seawalls and flooding is occurring.
Hurricane Henriette was expected to weaken significantly after it crossed into the Sea of Cortez, but it appears this was a short disturbance without lasting effect. Originally anticipated to be downgraded to tropical storm status, Henriette has retained enough strength to make landfall again as a hurricane.
Although only a category 1 hurricane, has already left 7 dead and thousands homeless after it made landfall along Los Cabos at the Southern tip of Baja, Mexico. The primarily desert regions of Baja are not as prepared to withstand hurricane forces as well as the tropical regions of the Caribbean. Caribbean hurricanes are a normal though potentially devastating part of each fall, and the flora and fauna recover quickly from such poundings. In Baja, the sandy soils saturate with water rapidly and begin to slide. Lacking dense vegetation, flash floods and mudslides can be catastrophic.
Hentiettes strength is expected to be felt for the next several days as it crosses over Sonora to the southwestern United States where flooding is expected in New Mexico and possibly Arizona. These desert regions will likely experience tremendous rainfall and flooding. Several years ago after a near-miss by a tropical storm, I remember putting my truck into 4-wheel-drive to drive through downtown Hermosillo! In several points, water was seeping around the doors and even smacking the windows.
Henriette, is expected to reach the mainland later today between Topolobampo and Bahia Kino. The specific track shows a likely landfall 25 -35 miles south of San Carlos.
Although the hurricane was disrupted as it crossed land from the Pacific to the Sea of Cortez, the Pacific system still produced winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour. The hurricane is now heading north at 12 mph and is about 70 miles from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Henriette may bring storm-surge flooding to Mexico as high as 5 feet (1.5 meters) above normal levels, “dangerous battering waves,'' and 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in mountainous areas, with the potential to cause “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides''. In response, Mexico has issued a hurricane warning from Topolobampo north to Bahia Kino and a tropical storm warning along the east coast of the Baja Peninsula from La Paz north to Loreto.
Hurricane Henriette was expected to weaken significantly after it crossed into the Sea of Cortez, but it appears this was a short disturbance without lasting effect. Originally anticipated to be downgraded to tropical storm status, Henriette has retained enough strength to make landfall again as a hurricane.
Although only a category 1 hurricane, has already left 7 dead and thousands homeless after it made landfall along Los Cabos at the Southern tip of Baja, Mexico. The primarily desert regions of Baja are not as prepared to withstand hurricane forces as well as the tropical regions of the Caribbean. Caribbean hurricanes are a normal though potentially devastating part of each fall, and the flora and fauna recover quickly from such poundings. In Baja, the sandy soils saturate with water rapidly and begin to slide. Lacking dense vegetation, flash floods and mudslides can be catastrophic.
Hentiettes strength is expected to be felt for the next several days as it crosses over Sonora to the southwestern United States where flooding is expected in New Mexico and possibly Arizona. These desert regions will likely experience tremendous rainfall and flooding. Several years ago after a near-miss by a tropical storm, I remember putting my truck into 4-wheel-drive to drive through downtown Hermosillo! In several points, water was seeping around the doors and even smacking the windows.
Henriette, is expected to reach the mainland later today between Topolobampo and Bahia Kino. The specific track shows a likely landfall 25 -35 miles south of San Carlos.
Although the hurricane was disrupted as it crossed land from the Pacific to the Sea of Cortez, the Pacific system still produced winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour. The hurricane is now heading north at 12 mph and is about 70 miles from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Henriette may bring storm-surge flooding to Mexico as high as 5 feet (1.5 meters) above normal levels, “dangerous battering waves,'' and 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in mountainous areas, with the potential to cause “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides''. In response, Mexico has issued a hurricane warning from Topolobampo north to Bahia Kino and a tropical storm warning along the east coast of the Baja Peninsula from La Paz north to Loreto.
Labels: Announcements
posted by SeaCortez at
12:35 PM
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