Hurricane Olaf (2021)

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Hurricane Olaf
Hurricane Olaf nearing peak intensity as it approaches Baja California Sur on September 9, 2021.
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 7, 2021
Remnant lowSeptember 11, 2021
DissipatedSeptember 12, 2021
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds105 mph (165 km/h)
Lowest pressure975 mbar (hPa); 28.79 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1 total
Damage$19 million
Areas affectedWestern Mexico, Baja California Sur
IBTrACS / [1]
Part of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Olaf was a Category 2

maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 975 mbar (28.8 inHg). Just after reaching peak intensity, the hurricane made landfall near San José del Cabo
. Interaction with the mountainous terrain of the Baja California Peninsula caused Olaf to quickly weaken. It was downgraded to a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC on September 10. The system became devoid of convection later that day and degenerated to a remnant low by 06:00 UTC on September 11.

The precursor disturbance to Olaf caused flooding in the southwestern

USD$19 million,[b]
and one person died due to a mudslide produced by the storm in Jalisco.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A

area of low pressure on September 5. The low gradually developed a well-defined center and organized convection, leading to the formation of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E by 12:00 UTC on September 7.[1]

Tropical Depression Fifteen-E shortly after formation, on September 8.

The depression's inner-core convection was disheveled for a while after formation, but the cyclone organized and became better defined throughout September 8, as it drifted northward within weak steering currents.

eyewall as its winds increased by 20 mph in just six hours.[6] At 02:50 UTC on September 10, Olaf reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 968 millibars (28.6 inHg); the storm made landfall very near San José del Cabo at this time.[7][8]

Olaf's center briefly crossed Baja California Sur before re-emerging back over water, weakening back to Category 1 status in the process.[9] Shortly after emerging back over water, the organization of Olaf collapsed, including its eye and eyewall, and it was downgraded to a tropical storm by 12:00 UTC.[1][10] Gradually moving westward away from land, Olaf continued to rapidly weaken, with its low-level center becoming exposed and devoid of any deep convection by 21:00 UTC.[11] By 06:00 UTC on September 11, Olaf had been devoid of any organized deep convection for 12 hours, and was therefore designated a remnant low as it turned back to the southwest.[12] The low continued westward for another day before degenerating into a trough of low pressure on September 12.[1]

Preparations and impact

Hurricane Olaf intensifying near the Baja California Peninsula on September 9.

At 03:00 UTC on September 8,

COVID-19 vaccinations were suspended and 20,000 tourists fled to hotels.[20] 20 temporary shelters were set up in Baja California Sur for residents with homes in high-risk areas of impact.[21] Classes in Cabo San Lucas were suspended on September 10.[22]

The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) of Mexico reported that over 191,000 people lost electricity at the height of the storm.

Los Cabos and La Paz alone.[30][31]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All times are in Coordinated Universal Time, unless otherwise noted
  2. ^ All monetary values are as of 2021

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Andy S. Latto (January 10, 2022). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Olaf (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Berg, Robbie (September 8, 2021). Tropical Depression Fifteen-E Discussion Number 3 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 8, 2021). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Latto, Andrew (September 8, 2021). Tropical Storm Olaf Discussion Number 5 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Zelinsky, David (September 9, 2021). Hurricane Olaf Discussion Number 8 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Beven, Jack (September 9, 2021). Hurricane Olaf Discussion Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 9, 2021). Hurricane Olaf Discussion Number 10 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 9, 2021). Hurricane Olaf Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Berg, Robbie (September 10, 2021). Hurricane Olaf Discussion Number 11 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Reinhart, Brad (September 10, 2021). Tropical Storm Olaf Discussion Number 12 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  11. ^ Reinhart, Brad (September 10, 2021). Tropical Storm Olaf Discussion Number 13 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Berg, Robbie (September 11, 2021). Post-Tropical Cyclone Olaf Discussion Number 15 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 7, 2021). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  14. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 8, 2021). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 9, 2021). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Papin, Philippe; Beven, Jack (September 9, 2021). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Leon, Raymundo (September 9, 2021). "Tormenta 'Olaf' provocará lluvias torrenciales en BCS, alerta SMN". La Jornada. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  18. ^ "Actividad ciclónica en el océano Pacifico en su región nororiental". 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  19. ^ "Hurricane Olaf makes landfall in Mexico near tourist area". NBC News. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  20. ^ "Hurricane Olaf hits Mexico's Los Cabos resorts at Category 2". CNBC. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  21. ^ a b "Olaf se debilita a tormenta tropical, tras azotar Baja California Sur con lluvias y vientos" (in Spanish). 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  22. ^ "SRE suspende citas para trámite de pasaporte en BCS por 'Olaf'". La Jornada. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "CFE restable al 94% la energía en BCS tras paso de Olaf". Adn40. September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  24. ^ "Estilo de vida Lluvias provocadas por "Olaf" causan derrumbe y un muerto en Jalisco". Latinus. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  25. ^ Santos, Javier (September 11, 2021). "Por 'Olaf', cierran accesos a playas en Nayarit". La Jornada. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  26. ^ "'Olaf' se degrada a tormenta tropical en Baja California Sur: trayectoria EN VIVO" (in Spanish). 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  27. ^ "Huracán Olaf toca tierra en Baja California" (in Spanish). 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  28. ^ "20,000 Tourists Stuck in Hotels As Hurricane Olaf Hits Baja California". Newsweek. 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  29. ^ "Hurricane Olaf nears Mexico's Los Cabos resorts". Associated Press. 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  30. ^ Impacto Socioeconómico De Los Principales Desastres Ocurridos En México (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres. June 20, 2023. p. 29. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  31. ^ "Huracán "Olaf" dejó daños estimados en 200 millones de pesos en BCS". El Heraldo de Mexico. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service.

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