Hurricane Winifred

Meteorological history

On October 1, a disorganized area of thunderstorms existed south of Panama. It gradually headed west-northwestward, slowly organized, and developed deep and concentrated convection. The disturbed area had become organized enough to be considered a tropical depression. Numbered Twenty-Four-E, the cyclone was located about 460 mi (740 km) south-southeast of Acapulco. It moved towards the west-northwest at a speed of about 12 mph (19 km/h), and by the time it was located about 550 km south of Zihuatanejo, it had intensified into Tropical Storm Winifred.

Winifred steadily became more organized, and late on October 7, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was anticipating Winifred to reach hurricane intensity within the next 36 hours. A large cyclone, Winifred continued to intensify. Its forward speed decreased as it started to turn to the northwest. By October 8, Winifred become a hurricane while located approximately 340 mi south-southeast of Manzanillo.

Winifred then intensified into a moderate Category 2 hurricane on October 9. Although the eye briefly disappeared, slight intensification was anticipated. The hurricane was curved north by an upper-level trough. Winifred peaked in intensity as a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale). At this time, Winifred, had central pressure of 960 mb and winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). This made Winifred the final hurricane– major or otherwise– of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season. However, it was operationally believed to have peaked as a Category 2 hurricane; the NHC did not issue any advisories with winds any higher than 110 mph (175 km/h).

Hurricane Winifred re-curved to the north-northeast, increased in forward speed, and slightly weakened as it approached land, with the storm's eye becoming less apparent in satellite imagery. On October 9, it made landfall in Colima about 15 nmi east-southeast of Manzanillo. At the time it was a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a central pressure of 975 mb. Hurricane Winifred quickly weakened after landfall, and weakened to a tropical storm less than three hours later, which was early on October 10. Later on October 10, Winifred weakened to a tropical depression, before dissipating over the mountains of central Mexico.

Preparations and impact

Five thousand people were evacuated to emergency shelters as Winifred neared. With the approach of the hurricane, watches and warnings were issued. On October 9 a tropical storm warning was issued from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes. At the same time, a hurricane watch went into effect in the same area. The watch was later replaced with a hurricane warning 12 hours later. On October 10, all watches and warnings were dropped.

Starting on October 8, Hurricane Winifred caused rainfall over an extensive area of Mexico. That rain caused flooding, which was blamed for three deaths.

Damage was heaviest in the states of Colima and Michoacán. In areas of the former, utilities were knocked out. Waves flooded portions of Highway 200 between Zihuatenajo, Ixtapa, and Lázaro Cárdenas. Other roads were also flooded.

References

References

1. "Preliminary Report Hurricane Winifred". [[National Hurricane Center]].
2. Lixon Avila. (October 7, 1992). "Tropical Storm Winifred Discussion 4". [[National Hurricane Center]].
3. Richard Pasch. (October 8, 1992). "Tropical Storm Winifred Discussion 5". [[National Hurricane Center]].
4. Miles Lawrence. (October 8, 1992). "Hurricane Winifred Discussion 8". [[National Hurricane Center]].
5. Max Mayfield. (October 8, 1992). "Hurricane Winifred Discussion 10". [[National Hurricane Center]].
6. (October 10, 1992). "Hurricane hits resort". [[Calgary Herald]].
7. "Preliminary Report Hurricane Winifred". [[National Hurricane Center]].
8. Roth, David M. "Hurricane Winifred – October 3–11, 1992". [[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]].
9. "Preliminary Report Hurricane Winifred". [[National Hurricane Center]].
10. (October 10, 1992). "Hurrican (sic) forced ports to close". Press-Courier.