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Hurricane Fausto (1996)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Fausto was a Pacific hurricane
that caused light damage to Baja California Sur
in September 1996. On September 10, a tropical depression developed a short distance south-southeast of the Mexican Riviera
. Slowly intensifying, Fuasto paralleled the coastline. It became a hurricane on September 12, and after briefly reaching major hurricane intensity, increasing wind shear
resulted in a weakening trend. It moved ashore Baja California Sur
on September 13 as minimal hurricane, and struck the mainland the next day. On September 15, the tropical cyclone
was no more. While 15 inches (381 mm) of rain was recorded, only one person was killed and damage was light.
on August 31. This area of disturbed weather was the southern part of a tropical wave which became Hurricane Fran
in the Atlantic Ocean. The disturbed weather moved westward across Central America on September 4 and to a position centered about 250 mi (402.3 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico on September 9, where it began to develop a low-level circulation and well-organized thunderstorm activity. A Tropical Depression formed on September 10 while located about 250 mi (402.3 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo.
Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was initially forecast to remain over water. Guided by a weak ridge near Baja California
, the depression moved northwestward at about 20 km/h (10 mph) and paralleled the coast of Mexico for the next three days. Meanwhile, the tropical cyclone
developed well-defined banding features
. Based on this, the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Fausto later that day. While banding featured increased and the tropical cyclone
became more organized and a well-established upper-level outflow, the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) re-assessed the intensity at 70 mph (195 km/h).
Fausto ultimately developed an eye
; as such, the tropical storm was upgraded into a hurricane on September 11. Hurricane Fuasto reached its peak intensity at 120 mph (195 km/h) midday on the 12th, and turned northward while centered south of the southern tip of Baja California
. The hurricane made landfall near Todos los Santos on Baja California
on September 13 with winds of 140 km/h (85 mph), and turned north-northeastward, it made landfall on the mainland of Mexico near Los Mochis several hours later as a weaker hurricane. Fausto rapidly weakened and dissipated on 0000 UTC on September 15 over the Sierra Madre mountains.
in 1995, port officials urged, and sometimes pressured, to return to port. Many flights were canceled.
Waves of up to 15 feet (4.6 m) walloped Pacific beaches along the southern tip of Baja California Sur
and yachts were damaged. There was no major damage on the mainland. There was one report of 4 inches (101.6 mm) of rainfall at Cabo San Lucas
. Similar amounts of rain may have spread inland over mainland Mexico. The storm total of 18.50 inches/470 mm reported at San Vicente de la Sierra. Despite the rainfall, damage in Mexico was minor, with only one casualty (a San Diego vacationer) caused by a downed power line in a trailer park. Damage totaled to around $800,000 (1996 USD) in both Baja California and the mainland in Mexico. However, Fausto downed power poles, smashed windows, and disrupted the tourist business at Cabo San Lucas and La Paz
. Four thousand people were left homeless by the storm.
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
that caused light damage to Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
in September 1996. On September 10, a tropical depression developed a short distance south-southeast of the Mexican Riviera
Mexican Riviera
The Mexican Riviera refers collectively to twenty cities and lagoons lying on the western coast of Mexico. Although there are long distances between these cities, they are often referred to as the Mexican Riviera because of their popularity among tourists. Cruise ships often visit three or four of...
. Slowly intensifying, Fuasto paralleled the coastline. It became a hurricane on September 12, and after briefly reaching major hurricane intensity, increasing 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...
resulted in a weakening trend. It moved ashore Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
on September 13 as minimal hurricane, and struck the mainland the next day. On September 15, the 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...
was no more. While 15 inches (381 mm) of rain was recorded, only one person was killed and damage was light.
Meteorological history
The origins of Fausto can be traced back to an area of disturbed weather that was located over VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on August 31. This area of disturbed weather was the southern part of a tropical wave which became Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina at Category 3 strength. Throughout the eastern United States, early statistics on Fran reported 27 deaths and $3.2 billion in damage...
in the Atlantic Ocean. The disturbed weather moved westward across Central America on September 4 and to a position centered about 250 mi (402.3 km) south of Acapulco, Mexico on September 9, where it began to develop a low-level circulation and well-organized thunderstorm activity. A Tropical Depression formed on September 10 while located about 250 mi (402.3 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo.
Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was initially forecast to remain over water. Guided by a weak ridge near Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, the depression moved northwestward at about 20 km/h (10 mph) and paralleled the coast of Mexico for the next three days. Meanwhile, the 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...
developed well-defined banding features
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...
. Based on this, the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Fausto later that day. While banding featured increased and the 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...
became more organized and a well-established upper-level outflow, 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) re-assessed the intensity at 70 mph (195 km/h).
Fausto ultimately developed 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...
; as such, the tropical storm was upgraded into a hurricane on September 11. Hurricane Fuasto reached its peak intensity at 120 mph (195 km/h) midday on the 12th, and turned northward while centered south of the southern tip of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. The hurricane made landfall near Todos los Santos on Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
on September 13 with winds of 140 km/h (85 mph), and turned north-northeastward, it made landfall on the mainland of Mexico near Los Mochis several hours later as a weaker hurricane. Fausto rapidly weakened and dissipated on 0000 UTC on September 15 over the Sierra Madre mountains.
Preparations and impact
The southern part of Baja California went under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning on September 12. The next day, a hurricane warning was issued for the same areas. That night a hurricane watch was issued for the mainland of Mexico. On the September 14, all the warnings were dropped. Fourteen ports throughout Mexico were closed due to the storm. An estimated 5,000 residents evacuated to 110 shelters set up by officials. Following the substantial loss of life due to Hurricane IsmaelHurricane Ismael
Hurricane Ismael was a weak, but deadly Pacific hurricane that killed over one hundred people in northern Mexico in September of the 1995 Pacific hurricane season. It developed from a persistent area of deep convection on September 12, and steadily strengthened as it moved to the north-northwest...
in 1995, port officials urged, and sometimes pressured, to return to port. Many flights were canceled.
Waves of up to 15 feet (4.6 m) walloped Pacific beaches along the southern tip of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
and yachts were damaged. There was no major damage on the mainland. There was one report of 4 inches (101.6 mm) of rainfall at 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...
. Similar amounts of rain may have spread inland over mainland Mexico. The storm total of 18.50 inches/470 mm reported at San Vicente de la Sierra. Despite the rainfall, damage in Mexico was minor, with only one casualty (a San Diego vacationer) caused by a downed power line in a trailer park. Damage totaled to around $800,000 (1996 USD) in both Baja California and the mainland in Mexico. However, Fausto downed power poles, smashed windows, and disrupted the tourist business at Cabo San Lucas and La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
. Four thousand people were left homeless by the storm.