| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Katia at peak intensity before landfall in Mexico | |
| Formed | September 5, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 9, 2017 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 105 mph (165 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 972 mbar (hPa); 28.7 inHg |
| Fatalities | 3 total |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Mexico |
| Part of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Katia was a tropical cyclone that formed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 5, 2017. It was the eleventh named storm and sixth hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Hurricane Katia marked the first instance of three simultaneously active hurricanes since 2010. After impacting Mexico, Katia crossed into the eastern Pacific and reorganized into Major Hurricane Otis. Katia reached its peak as a Category 2 hurricane shortly before hitting eastern Mexico. A short-lived storm, Katia made landfall early in its life at a time when Mexico was experiencing earthquakes, triggering mudslides upon impact.
Meteorological history edit
A trough was present over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on September 3, producing a widespread area of thunderstorms.[1] Two days later, a distinct low pressure area formed about 50 mi (80 km) east of Tampico, Tamaulipas.[2] At 21:00 UTC that day, the NHC designated the system as Tropical Depression Thirteen after an organized area of convection formed over the center. Located in an area of weak steering currents, the depression drifted slowly eastward. With gradually decreasing wind shear and warm water temperatures, the system intensified into Tropical Storm Katia on September 6, as the convection became better organized.[3][4] Later that day, an aircraft reconnaissance flight into the storm found a partial eye wall and surface winds of 76 mph (122 km/h); on that basis, the NHC upgraded Katia to hurricane status.[5] The convection organized into a central dense overcast as the system stalled.[6] Late in the evening of September 8, Katia made landfall north of Tecolutla, Mexico as a weak Category 1 storm.[7] The system rapidly dissipated over land on September 9. Katia's remnants traveled across Central America and later emerged over the Pacific Ocean, where redevelopment ensued. Tropical Depression Fifteen-E formed, which later strengthened into Hurricane Otis about a week later.[8]
Preparations and impact edit
In preparation for Katia, over 4,000 residents were evacuated from the states of Veracruz and Puebla.[9] Tourists left coastal towns, emergency shelters were opened, and storm drains were cleared before the onset of heavy rainfall.[10] Two fatalities were reported in Xalapa from mudslides, while a third man was swept away by floodwaters in Jalcomulco. States of emergency were declared for 40 out of a total 53 municipalities that reported minor damage from mudslides and flooding.[11] About 77,000 residents were left without power at the height of the storm.[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Dave Roberts (September 3, 2017). Tropical Weather Outlook (TXT) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Christopher Landsea (September 5, 2017). Tropical Weather Outlook (TXT) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Eric Blake (September 5, 2017). Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number 1 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Dave Roberts (September 6, 2017). Tropical Storm Katia Discussion Number 3 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Lixion Avila (September 6, 2017). Hurricane Katia Discussion Number 5 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Eric Blake (September 7, 2017). Hurricane Katia Discussion Number 6 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ (now), Claire Phipps; Yuhas, Alan; (earlier), Matthew Weaver (9 September 2017). "Cuba lashed by Category five winds as storm heads to US – as it happened" – via The Guardian.
- ^ "Tropical Depression FIFTEEN-E Advisory #1". www.nhc.noaa.gov.
- ^ Christopher Sherman (September 9, 2017). "México: 65 muertos por sismo, dos por huracán Katia" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ "El huracán Katia toca tierra en las costas de México" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Herald. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ "Katia leaves 3 dead and minimal damage". Mexico News Daily. September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ "El huracán Katia causa deslaves que dejan dos muertos en Veracruz, México" (in Spanish). BBC. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.