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Hurricane Boris (1996)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Boris was the second of three storms to impact the Pacific coast of Mexico in June and July 1996. The fourth tropical cyclone
and second hurricane of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season
, Boris formed out of a tropical wave
roughly 250 mi (402.3 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec
on June 27. The storm gradually intensified, becoming a tropical storm the following day and then hurricane on June 29. As the storm neared landfall, an eye
developed and Boris reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Shortly after, the hurricane made landfall along the south coast of Mexico, between Lazaro Cardenas and Acapulco, at this intensity. Boris quickly weakened following its landfall, becoming a tropical depression roughly 18 hours later. The remnants of the system persisted until July 1, at which time it dissipated just offshore the Mexican coastline. Boris caused heavy flooding in southern Mexico that resulted in ten fatalities; however, a damage estimate is unknown.
that moved off the west coast of Africa on June 8. The poorly organized wave tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean
and Caribbean Sea
and entered the Pacific Ocean
on June 23. The first signs of a circulation on satellite imagery appeared on June 26, centered about 250 miles (402.3 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The system gained enough circulation definition and rainband
s to acquire tropical depression status on June 27.
Upon becoming a tropical cyclone
, the Aviation forecast model predicted Tropical Depression Four-E to make landfall in Mexico as a weak tropical storm in 12 hours. Around that time, the forecast track was issued by the National Hurricane Center late on June 27, stating that it would receive an outflow near Hurricane Alma. At the same time, the UKMET model had Tropical Depression Four-E remaining offshore Mexico. The same model also had the depression becoming Tropical Storm Boris. The National Hurricane Center forecasted Tropical Depression Four-E to become Tropical Storm Boris and make landfall in Mexico with winds of 50 nmi (92.6 km). In the same advisory, it was noted that the outer rain bands of Tropical Depression Four-E had moved onshore Mexico.
The tropical cyclone moved northwestward at 8 to 10 knots, and for the next two days its maximum sustained wind
s strengthened from 30 miles per hour (48.3 km/h) to 75 miles per hour (120.7 km/h). A ragged eye appeared on satellite imagery just before landfall on the afternoon of June 29, at a peak intensity of 85 miles per hour (136.8 km/h). The center crossed the south coast of Mexico midway between Lazaro Cardenas and Acapulco. Shortly after landfall
, Boris weakened to a depression and turned southwestward in response to a building subtropical ridge
to its north. The system, thoroughly disrupted by the mountainous terrain of Mexico, dissipated on the July 1 after moving back over water just south of Puerta Vallarta.
and Puerto Escondido on June 28. From Manzanillo to Puerto Maldonado
, the tropical storm replaced with a hurricane warning the same day.
Boris caused ten deaths. One person was killed in Tecpan. Nearby, three other people drowned and five fishers were missing. In Acapulco, a child was killed when a roof collapsed. Also, in Acapulco, strong surf pushed fishing boats against a sea wall. Trees were downed, and business signs were blown down. Streets were flooded to the level of the tires. Trees were knocked down .
A total of about 10,000 people were left homeless, and at least 70 people were injured. Damage is unknown. Rain was heavy throughout the impacted region, with the highest totals in Guerrero
. A total of 12.16 inches (308.9 mm) was recorded in Coyuca de Benítez
. The highest total was 14.98 inches (380.5 mm) at Paso de San Antonio, to the east of the point of landfall. Those rains caused a flood on the San Jeronimo River
, which left at least 5000 homeless. In Tecpan, a countless number of homes were washed away. Winds went as high as 90 miles per hour (40.2 m/s). The storm flooded lobbies of hotels along the coast. Approximately 12 boats were sunk offshore. Tecpan bore the brunt of the storm, reporting heavy damage. The area was impacted by Hurricane Alma
just a few days before. On July 18 the President of Mexico had a meeting for the victims of Boris and Cristina, a storm later that season, in Acapulco, Mexico.
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 second hurricane of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season
1996 Pacific hurricane season
The 1996 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone formation and the third least active Pacific hurricane season in recorded history, behind 1977 and 2010. It officially began May 15, 1996 in the eastern north Pacific and on June 1, 1996 in the central north Pacific. It ended on...
, Boris formed out of a tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
roughly 250 mi (402.3 km) south 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 June 27. The storm gradually intensified, becoming a tropical storm the following day and then hurricane on June 29. As the storm neared landfall, an eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
developed and Boris reached its peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Shortly after, the hurricane made landfall along the south coast of Mexico, between Lazaro Cardenas and Acapulco, at this intensity. Boris quickly weakened following its landfall, becoming a tropical depression roughly 18 hours later. The remnants of the system persisted until July 1, at which time it dissipated just offshore the Mexican coastline. Boris caused heavy flooding in southern Mexico that resulted in ten fatalities; however, a damage estimate is unknown.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Boris originated from a tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that moved off the west coast of Africa on June 8. The poorly organized wave tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and entered the 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 June 23. The first signs of a circulation on satellite imagery appeared on June 26, centered about 250 miles (402.3 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. The system gained enough circulation definition and rainband
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
s to acquire tropical depression status on June 27.
Upon becoming a 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...
, the Aviation forecast model predicted Tropical Depression Four-E to make landfall in Mexico as a weak tropical storm in 12 hours. Around that time, the forecast track was issued by the National Hurricane Center late on June 27, stating that it would receive an outflow near Hurricane Alma. At the same time, the UKMET model had Tropical Depression Four-E remaining offshore Mexico. The same model also had the depression becoming Tropical Storm Boris. The National Hurricane Center forecasted Tropical Depression Four-E to become Tropical Storm Boris and make landfall in Mexico with winds of 50 nmi (92.6 km). In the same advisory, it was noted that the outer rain bands of Tropical Depression Four-E had moved onshore Mexico.
The tropical cyclone moved northwestward at 8 to 10 knots, and for the next two days its maximum sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s strengthened from 30 miles per hour (48.3 km/h) to 75 miles per hour (120.7 km/h). A ragged eye appeared on satellite imagery just before landfall on the afternoon of June 29, at a peak intensity of 85 miles per hour (136.8 km/h). The center crossed the south coast of Mexico midway between Lazaro Cardenas and Acapulco. Shortly after landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
, Boris weakened to a depression and turned southwestward in response to a building subtropical ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
to its north. The system, thoroughly disrupted by the mountainous terrain of Mexico, dissipated on the July 1 after moving back over water just south of Puerta Vallarta.
Preparations, impact and aftermath
As Hurricane Boris was approaching Mexico, a tropical storm watch was issued for the coast between ManzanilloManzanillo, 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...
and Puerto Escondido on June 28. From Manzanillo to Puerto Maldonado
Puerto Maldonado
Puerto Maldonado is a city in Southeastern Peru in the Amazon forest west of the Bolivian border on the confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios River, a tributary of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the Madre de Dios Region....
, the tropical storm replaced with a hurricane warning the same day.
A total of about 10,000 people were left homeless, and at least 70 people were injured. Damage is unknown. Rain was heavy throughout the impacted region, with the highest totals in Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
. A total of 12.16 inches (308.9 mm) was recorded in Coyuca de Benítez
Coyuca de Benítez
Coyuca de Benítez is a city and seat of the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez, in the state of Guerrero, south-western Mexico....
. The highest total was 14.98 inches (380.5 mm) at Paso de San Antonio, to the east of the point of landfall. Those rains caused a flood on the San Jeronimo River
San Jeronimo River
The San Jeronimo is a river in Southern Mexico. When Hurricane Boris made landfall there in July 1996, it caused flooding that made 5000 homeless....
, which left at least 5000 homeless. In Tecpan, a countless number of homes were washed away. Winds went as high as 90 miles per hour (40.2 m/s). The storm flooded lobbies of hotels along the coast. Approximately 12 boats were sunk offshore. Tecpan bore the brunt of the storm, reporting heavy damage. The area was impacted by Hurricane Alma
Hurricane Alma (1996)
Hurricane Alma was the first of three consecutively named storms to make landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico during a ten-day span. Alma was the third tropical cyclone, first named storm and first hurricane of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season. It is believed that the storm originated out of an...
just a few days before. On July 18 the President of Mexico had a meeting for the victims of Boris and Cristina, a storm later that season, in Acapulco, Mexico.