Hurricane Beatriz (2023)

Hurricane Beatriz was a Category 1 Pacific hurricane that caused widespread flooding along much of the Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico in late June and early July 2023. The second named storm and second hurricane of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, Beatriz originated from the remnant wave of Atlantic Tropical Storm Bret. After dissipating over the central Caribbean Sea, the wave moved over Central America on June 25. The nascent disturbance then merged with a nearby low-pressure area later that day. The disturbance was slow to organize, but due to the impending threat it posed to the Mexican coast, advisories were initiated on it as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two-E at 03:00 UTC on June 29. The system organized into a tropical depression six hours later. Later that day, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was named ''Beatriz''. Closely paralleling the coast of Mexico, Beatriz rapidly intensified into a hurricane at 15:00 UTC on June 30. The storm peaked in intensity shortly after with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of . Early on July 1, the hurricane's center brushed the coast near Punta San Telmo, after which it steadily lost organization. Beatriz weakened to a tropical storm shortly thereafter, and the system dissipated entirely by 18:00 UTC that day offshore of Cabo Corrientes.

Beatriz formed from a tropical wave that had previously been Atlantic Tropical Storm Bret. After dissipating over the central Caribbean Sea, the wave moved over Central America on June 25. The nascent disturbance and then Beatriz caused heavy rainfall and flooding across multiple Mexican states for several days, but overall damage from the hurricane was considered minor in most areas. Beatriz caused one indirect fatality on July 1, when a person drowned while surfing the high waves generated by its remnants.

Meteorological history

The remnant wave of Tropical Storm Bret crossed into Central America on June 25, 2023. Later that day, it absorbed a nearby low-pressure area near Costa Rica. The nascent disturbance then developed a few hundred miles southwest of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The low pressure area progressed slowly northwestward, producing a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms. The associated shower and thunderstorm activity remained disorganized for several days before beginning to show signs of organization on June 28, while located to the south of Guatemala. The disturbance continued to organize throughout the day, but by late on June 28 could still not be deemed a tropical cyclone; however, due to its impending threat to the southwestern coast of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) initiated advisories on the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Two-E at 03:00 UTC on June 29. An increase in the system's organization led to its upgrade to a tropical depression six hours later. The newly formed tropical cyclone continued to organize its deep convection throughout the day, and it was upgraded to a tropical storm twelve hours later and assigned the name ''Beatriz''.

Beatriz was steered to the northwest as it moved between a ridge to its northeast and the more powerful Hurricane Adrian to its west. Very warm sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) and fairly low wind shear allowed the storm to rapidly intensify. At 15:00 UTC on June 30, Beatriz was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as it neared the Mexican coast. Despite its center being near the coast, Beatriz continued to intensify and reached its peak intensity at 21:00 UTC that day with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of . Around this time, Beatriz' eye began to be obscured on satellite imagery as the storm interacted with the mountainous terrain of Mexico. Beatriz' maximum sustained winds dropped to tropical storm strength early on July 1, as its center brushed the coast of Mexico near Punta San Telmo, Michoacán. Continuing on a northwesterly path, with its center remaining just off the coast, Beatriz' organization quickly unraveled to the point that the NHC was uncertain if Beatriz' surface circulation still existed. An Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) pass confirmed by 18:00 UTC on July 1 that Beatriz no longer had a surface circulation and had dissipated off the Mexican coast.

Preparations and impact

Upon Beatriz’ precursor's designation as a potential tropical cyclone on June 28, tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for much of the southwestern coast of Mexico. Hurricane watches and warnings were issued as the storm strengthened and neared the coast, from the state of Oaxaca northwest to Jalisco.

Beatriz was the fifth hurricane to strike the Pacific coast of Mexico in a roughly one-year time period, following hurricanes Agatha, Kay, Orlene and Roslyn in 2022. Widespread floods, fallen trees, power outages and road collapses were reported across the states of Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán and Jalisco in Beatriz' wake. Torrential rainfall fell across each state, prompting the opening of temporary storm shelters. In Michoacán, which Beatriz strengthened into a hurricane directly offshore of, strong winds from the cyclone left significant damage across several municipalities. Papaya trees were strewn across the ground from their plantations, while the tile and tin roofs of hundreds of houses were severely damaged or destroyed, particularly in the small town of Maruata. Several communities were left without power for over 48 hours following the storm. Stranded vehicles, fence collapses and fallen trees were reported in the neighboring state of Guerrero, especially around the port city of Acapulco. Despite being well inland of the Pacific coast of Mexico, the state of Hidalgo saw torrential rainfall that flooded nearly 110 homes across three towns; however, no casualties were reported as a result.

In Jalisco, mudslides, landslides and intermittent rains occurred on Mexican federal highways 80 and 200. However, because Beatriz greatly weakened as it approached the state, overall damage from the hurricane was considered minor; despite this, residents were urged to take precautions against the strong rains produced by the cyclone. A 25-year-old surfer off the coast of Cerritos Beach in Baja California Sur died after surfing the high waves generated by Beatriz' remnants on July 1.

See also

* Weather of 2023
* Tropical cyclones in 2023
* List of Category 1 Pacific hurricanes
* Timeline of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season
* Hurricane Andres (2009) – Had a similar track and intensity
* Hurricane Erick (2013) – Took a similar track and had similar effects
* Hurricane Carlos (2015) – Had a similar track and intensity
* Hurricane Nora (2021) – Also affected similar areas 2 years prior

References

External links

* The National Hurricane Center'
advisory archive on Hurricane Beatriz

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beatriz (2023)
Category 1 Pacific hurricanes
2023 Pacific hurricane season
2023 in Mexico