Pacific Hurricane Season

Along the coast of southwestern Mexico, the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific season emerged on June 25. Named Hurricane Enrique, the storm initially formed off the coast of Michoacán, Mexico, propelling to Category 1 status by Friday evening after reaching sustained wind speeds of approximately 85 miles per hour. The storm followed a northwestern trajectory that guided it along the coast of southwestern Mexico on a path towards the Baja California Peninsula. Upon its Wednesday arrival, the cyclone had downgraded to a tropical storm but still released substantial amounts of rainfall and high wind speeds.

Hurricane Enrique had maximum sustained wind speeds reaching 85 miles per hour, with gusts up to 105 miles per hour. The storm possessed a steady central pressure of 980 mbar, with the stronger winds having radii of 35 to 45 miles and weaker winds having those of 95 to 110 miles. In preparation for this potential disaster, officials implemented hurricane warnings from Playa Perula to Cabo Corrientes and tropical storm warnings for areas expected to face remnants of the weakening hurricane like the Mexican Baja California Peninsula. To help ensure the safety of residents, the government advised them to make preparations in advance. Officials expected Enrique to rain 6-12 inches (through Tuesday) in the states of Colima, and the coasts of Jalisco, Michoacán, and northern Guerrero, prompting concerns over flash floods and mudslides that could have potentially been life-threatening.

Enrique was the fifth named storm to occur during the eastern Pacific hurricane season and the first to receive hurricane status. Its predecessors include Andres, Blanca, Carlos, and Dolores, with only the latter making contact with land. In a typical season, 15 named storms form, 8 become hurricanes, and four become Category 3 or greater. So far, five named storms have formed with only one minor hurricane occurring; therefore, it stands to reason that there will be significantly more, potentially devastating, storms in the coming months.

Despite Enrique not being considered a “major hurricane,” it is still responsible for the destruction of 200 homes, damage to roads, and the deaths of two individuals. The storm dissipated after diverting from a direct hit on the Baja California Peninsula. Instead, it veered into the Gulf of California, where it finally subsided. Ultimately, the storm lasted about a week, bearing hurricane status for three of those days. The storm’s magnitude may not have been as severe as possible, but the fact that lives were lost and greatly affected does not change. In these catastrophic events, communities must rally together to help restore the damaged locales.

One such way to get involved in the recovery process for the aftermath of Hurricane Enrique is to volunteer or donate. All Hands and Hearts is a volunteer organization that visits areas impacted by natural disasters and provides assistance until the community can rebuild while also helping to prepare for future disasters. The organization offers an excellent volunteering opportunity for anyone who hopes to directly contribute to the recovery process and witness firsthand the damage. If volunteering is not feasible, one can make donations on their website. To learn more about this organization and to join their initiative, please visit the link below this article.

https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/