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Hurricane Carlotta (2006)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Carlotta was a minimal hurricane that briefly affected southwestern Mexico with light rainfall in July 2006. The second hurricane and fourth tropical cyclone
of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season
, Carlotta developed on July 12 from a tropical wave
off the southwest coast of Mexico. It quickly attained hurricane status, though nearby Hurricane Bud
caused the hurricane to weaken. Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status before again reaching hurricane status, though on July 15 it began its final weakening trend due to cooler waters and wind shear
. On July 17 it degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
, and four days later the circulation dissipated.
moved off the coast of Africa on June 30, 2006, and it moved across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea with little convection. On July 9, while crossing Central America into the eastern North Pacific Ocean, thunderstorm activity increased. Late the next day a broad low pressure area
developed about 290 mi (465 km) south of Puerto Ángel
, Oaxaca
; around the same time, convection was diminishing, although forecasters at the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) noted its potential for tropical cyclogenesis
over the subsequent days while paralleling the Mexican coastline. The thunderstorms increased around the low on July 11, and by 0000 UTC
on July 12 it was sufficiently well-organized to be designated Tropical Depression Four-E; at the time, it was located about 290 mi (465 km) south of Zihuatanejo
, Guerrero
.
Upon being classified as a tropical cyclone, the depression was moving quickly west-northwestward to the south of a ridge
over northwestern Mexico. It was a large cyclone, and initially its outer rainbands moved across the coast of Mexico. The depression had good outflow
, and its primary inhibiting factor was its large size. After an increase in convection over the center, the depression intensified into a tropical storm just six hours after forming; at this time, the NHC named the storm Carlotta. With low wind shear
and warm water temperatures, as well as the development of an inner core, fairly rapid intensification
was expected. By late on July 12, the storm developed banding features, and early on July 13 Carlotta attained hurricane status about 430 mi (700 km) south of Cabo San Lucas
on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula
.
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As Hurricane Carlotta intensified, the system became more compact, and it reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). An eye
formed in the center of the convection, and the hurricane was briefly forecast to attain major hurricane
status, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale
. However, Carlotta did not intensify further due to increased wind shear from Hurricane Bud
to its west. It began weakening on July 14, as its eye became poorly-defined and its convection decreased in coverage. The northern portion of the circulation moved across an area of cooler waters, and Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status late on July 14. However, a decrease in wind shear caused the convection to rebuild and for the eye to reform, allowing the storm to re-attain hurricane status early on July 15. The re-intensification was short-lived, as the center of the hurricane moved into the area of cooler waters; the eye disappeared, and Carlotta again weakened to tropical storm status. Late on July 15, the circulation became separated from the convection, and by the next day the circulation was largely devoid of any thunderstorms; it weakened to tropical depression status at 1200 UTC. By July 17, after being unable to generate any convection, Carlotta degenerated into a remnant low. The circulation continued generally westward, dissipating on July 20 about 1500 mi (2400 km) east of the Hawaiian islands.
to around Manzanillo, Colima
. Rainfall totals were less than 1 inch (25 mm), and there were no reports of tropical storm-force winds over land. No fatalities or damages were reported.
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...
of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season
2006 Pacific hurricane season
The 2006 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season since 2000 producing 19 tropical storms or hurricanes. Eighteen developed within the National Hurricane Center area of warning responsibility, which is east of 140ºW, and one storm formed between 140ºW and the...
, Carlotta developed on July 12 from 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...
off the southwest coast of Mexico. It quickly attained hurricane status, though nearby Hurricane Bud
Hurricane Bud (2006)
Hurricane Bud was the first hurricane and third named tropical cyclone of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. It formed as a tropical depression on July 10, to the south of the southern tip of Baja California. Shortly after, it became a tropical storm, and soon after the storm began to develop an...
caused the hurricane to weaken. Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status before again reaching hurricane status, though on July 15 it began its final weakening trend due to cooler waters and wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
. On July 17 it degenerated into a remnant low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
, and four days later the circulation dissipated.
Meteorological history
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...
moved off the coast of Africa on June 30, 2006, and it moved across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea with little convection. On July 9, while crossing Central America into the eastern North Pacific Ocean, thunderstorm activity increased. Late the next day a broad low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
developed about 290 mi (465 km) south of Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel
Puerto Ángel is a small coastal town in the Mexican state of Oaxaca located in the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla. It, along with San Agustinillo and Playa Zipolite are known as the "Riviera Oaxaqueña. It is located 9 km south of city of Pochutla fifty km west of Huatulco and eighty km...
, Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
; around the same time, convection was diminishing, although forecasters at the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) noted its potential for tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
over the subsequent days while paralleling the Mexican coastline. The thunderstorms increased around the low on July 11, and by 0000 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on July 12 it was sufficiently well-organized to be designated Tropical Depression Four-E; at the time, it was located about 290 mi (465 km) south of Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Politically the city belongs to the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in the western part of Guerrero, but both are commonly referred to as Zihuatanejo...
, 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....
.
Upon being classified as a tropical cyclone, the depression was moving quickly west-northwestward to the south of a ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
over northwestern Mexico. It was a large cyclone, and initially its outer rainbands moved across the coast of Mexico. The depression had good outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
, and its primary inhibiting factor was its large size. After an increase in convection over the center, the depression intensified into a tropical storm just six hours after forming; at this time, the NHC named the storm Carlotta. With low wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
and warm water temperatures, as well as the development of an inner core, fairly rapid intensification
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
was expected. By late on July 12, the storm developed banding features, and early on July 13 Carlotta attained hurricane status about 430 mi (700 km) south of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
.
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...
formed in the center of the convection, and the hurricane was briefly forecast to attain major hurricane
Tropical cyclone scales
Tropical systems are officially ranked on one of several tropical cyclone scales according to their maximum sustained winds and in what oceanic basin they are located...
status, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. However, Carlotta did not intensify further due to increased wind shear from Hurricane Bud
Hurricane Bud (2006)
Hurricane Bud was the first hurricane and third named tropical cyclone of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. It formed as a tropical depression on July 10, to the south of the southern tip of Baja California. Shortly after, it became a tropical storm, and soon after the storm began to develop an...
to its west. It began weakening on July 14, as its eye became poorly-defined and its convection decreased in coverage. The northern portion of the circulation moved across an area of cooler waters, and Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status late on July 14. However, a decrease in wind shear caused the convection to rebuild and for the eye to reform, allowing the storm to re-attain hurricane status early on July 15. The re-intensification was short-lived, as the center of the hurricane moved into the area of cooler waters; the eye disappeared, and Carlotta again weakened to tropical storm status. Late on July 15, the circulation became separated from the convection, and by the next day the circulation was largely devoid of any thunderstorms; it weakened to tropical depression status at 1200 UTC. By July 17, after being unable to generate any convection, Carlotta degenerated into a remnant low. The circulation continued generally westward, dissipating on July 20 about 1500 mi (2400 km) east of the Hawaiian islands.
Impact
When Carlotta was first forming, its outer rainbands brought light rainfall along the Pacific coast of Mexico, from the Gulf of TehuantepecGulf 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...
to around Manzanillo, Colima
Manzanillo, 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...
. Rainfall totals were less than 1 inch (25 mm), and there were no reports of tropical storm-force winds over land. No fatalities or damages were reported.
See also
- Other tropical cyclones named Carlotta
- Timeline of the 2006 Pacific hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2006 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2006 Pacific hurricane season was the most active since the 2000 season, producing produced 21 tropical depressions; 19 of which became tropical storms or hurricanes...
- List of storms in the 2006 Pacific hurricane season