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Tropical Storm Chris (2024)

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Tropical Storm Chris
Tropical Storm Chris near peak intensity as it approached the coast of Veracruz early on July 1
Meteorological history
FormedJune 30, 2024
DissipatedJuly 1, 2024
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities6 (5 direct, 1 indirect)
Damage>$1 million (2024 USD)
Areas affectedMexico[1][2][3][4]
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Chris was a weak and very short-lived tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of Mexico in early July 2024. The third named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season,[5] Chris developed from a tropical wave that was first noted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on June 24. The wave struggled to organize as it moved westward across the Caribbean Sea and crossed the Yucatán Peninsula on June 30. Upon entering the Bay of Campeche, the wave coalesced into a tropical depression on June 30. Located within a favorable environment for strengthening, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Chris about six hours later. Shortly thereafter, Chris moved ashore near Alto Lucero, Veracruz. Chris rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of East Mexico and dissipated on July 1.

Chris prompted yellow alerts for northern and central Veracruz, later bringing heavy rainfall to parts of Mexico that had already been saturated by Tropical Storm Alberto earlier in June. Rainfall totals reached up to 11.5 in (292 mm) in Acatlán. Flooding occurred in parts of Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, and the State of Mexico, forcing the evacuation of dozens of households. A man was killed in San Salvador, Hidalgo, after a dwelling was buried by a mudslide. In addition, four police officers drowned in Tepetlán, Veracruz, during damage surveys after their vehicle was swept away by a river, and an elderly woman was fatally electrocuted in Tampico, Tamaulipas. In the aftermath of Chris, Plan DN-III-E, a disaster rescue and relief plan, was implemented in the State of Mexico to clear flooding from Lake Texcoco. Pumping equipment was also used to clear standing water from highways without drainage and victims of storm damage in Chiapas were provided with food and supplies. Damage from Chris is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.[4]

Meteorological history

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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

The origins of Chris were traced to a low-latitude tropical wave emerged off the coast of West Africa on June 20 and entered the tropical Atlantic. The wave moved rapidly westward at forward of speeds of approximately 20 to 25 knots (23 to 29 mph).[6] The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first began to monitor this tropical wave for potential tropical cyclogenesis at 18:00 UTC on June 24.[7] Crossing the Windward Islands on June 25, the wave entered the Caribbean Sea. Although it produced convective activity, it was rather disorganized due to the storm's quick forward motion and the effects of strong deep-layer westerly wind shear. The wave moved westward across the Caribbean Sea, struggling to develop any signs of organization, before it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula and entered the Bay of Campeche during the early hours of June 30.[6] After a Hurricane Hunters reconnaissance flight found sufficient organization at 18:00 UTC on June 30, the low pressure area was declared Tropical Depression Three, while located roughly 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.[6][8]

Around this time, curved bands began to form and a large burst of convection developed close to the circulation center. Within a conducive environment, the depression was given a small window to intensify prior to landfall in Mexico. The storm was steered westward as it moved along the southern periphery of a mid-tropospheric ridge over the north-central Gulf Coast of the United States.[8] Around six hours later, at 00:00 UTC on July 1, another Hurricane Hunters reconnaissance flight found sustained tropical-storm force winds in the cyclone, allowing the NHC to upgrade the system to Tropical Storm Chris.[9][6] With an increase in convection on the eastern quadrant of the storm, Chris attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 1005 mbar (29.68 inHg), as it moved ashore on the Mexican coastline near Alto Lucero, Veracruz, at around 03:00 UTC that day.[6] During this time, most of the storm's highest winds were displaced to the east of the center.[10] Chris rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of eastern Mexico, with the circulation of the storm dissipating by 12:00 UTC.[6]

Preparations and impact

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Animation of satellite imagery
Satellite loop of Tropical Storm Chris making landfall in Veracruz early on July 1

Ahead of Chris's impacts in Mexico, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning from Cabo Rojo to Puerto Veracruz.[11] The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional asked residents and tourists to heed weather warnings issued by authorities and noted the threat of heavy rainfall and rough waves.[12] A yellow alert was issued for northern and central Veracruz. The remainder of Veracruz, northern and eastern Hidalgo, northern Puebla, southeastern San Luis Potosí, and southeastern Tamaulipas were placed under a green alert. A blue alert was in effect for remaining parts of Hidalgo and Puebla, as well as parts of Oaxaca, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, and Tabasco.[13] Classes were suspended in 41 municipalities in Veracruz.[14] The government of Veracruz opened nine emergency shelters, which housed 86 people.[15]

As Chris moved ashore in Veracruz, a peak precipitation amount of 11.5 in (292 mm) was recorded in Acatlán.[16] Flooding damaged close to 2,000 homes in Huilopan.[15] Over 600 homes were damaged by mudslides in Cerro Gentil and Omiquila. A family in Xalapa was buried in their house by another mudslide.[17] Across Xalapa, 58 colonias sustained damage; there were also 42 reports of fallen trees and 57 reports of mudslides. Four people had to be rescued and 50 residents were evacuated. The city recorded 9.8 in (250 mm) of rainfall within 24 hours.[18] A mudslide in Tlilapan damaged approximately 200 homes and main roads connecting to two colonias. The overflow of a stream affected 765 households in Isla,[19] accounting for most of the homes destroyed in Veracruz.[20] A bridge was swept away by a torrent stream in Tenantitla, isolating residents of the nearby villages of Tolico and Zapata.[21] Following the storm, four police officers conducting damage surveys in Tepetlán drowned after their vehicle was swept away by the Río Seco and destroyed.[1] In Tamaulipas, Chris produced heavy rainfall, especially in the community of Ciudad Tula, which had already been affected by Tropical Storm Alberto earlier in the month, recording its highest 48-hour rainfall rate in nearly 50 years. Ground cracking was reported at an ejido in the town, expanding into houses on the property.[22] In Tampico, a total of 5.7 in (144 mm) of rainfall occurred within a 12-hour period.[3] Flash floods knocked over fences and washed over streets. An unoccupied van was destroyed by a fallen fence in the Campbell district. A passenger bus with 15 occupants was nearly swept into a canal, requiring the rescue of all occupants.[23] An elderly woman was fatally electrocuted in Tampico after attempting to clear water off her balcony.[3] Flooding inundated homes and a hospital in Ciudad Madero and formed a sinkhole under a street in the Nuevo Progreso district. Residents of Ciudad Madero were warned to not venture onto flooded roads due to the potential presence of crocodiles from overflowed lagoons and canals.[24] A crocodile sighting, along with the weather conditions, forced the closure of a beach in the city.[25] Six schools were closed in Ciudad Madero after floodwaters entered the facilities. Several roads across Tamaulipas were closed by the National Guard due to flooding or collapses. A total of 10,274 households statewide lost electricity due to the storm.[23]

Map of predicted rainfall amounts
Rainfall totals forecast by the Weather Prediction Center on June 30

In Hidalgo, a man was killed in San Salvador after a house was buried by a landslide. More than 200 residents in Yahualica had be to be rescued by helicopter after a river overtopped its banks. River flooding inundated numerous homes and a clinic in Xochiatipan, affecting more than 20,000 people.[2] The Cosapa River overflowed in Zacualtipán, resulting in the evacuation of 30 families. Several roads in Huehuetla were blocked by mudslides. Statewide, 26 municipalities reported impacts from mudslides.[26] Heavy rainfall and flooding occurred due to Chris in Oaxaca, inundating streets in Tehuantepec. Power outages were reported in San Francisco del Mar and San Francisco Ixhuatán, where the Ostuta River began to rise. Classes were cancelled in En Juchitán after the Los Perros River began to rise as well.[27] In Chiapas, the threat of mudslides triggered the evacuation of 645 people in Siltepec. The Tacuba River overflowed its banks in San Pedro Yocnavil, affecting 28 households. Two ejidos in Frontera Comalapa suffered roof damage to houses. Roof sheets were provided to these affected ejidos.[22] The Tembembe River in Morelos began to rise in the municipalities of Miacatlán, Mazatepec, and Puente de Ixtla. River flooding inundated a few homes and streets in these municipalities.[28][29] In addition, overflowing ravines caused flooding and traffic disruptions in Miacatlan and Tetecala. A market in Zacatepec was submerged by floodwaters from heavy rainfall.[29] Fences and trees were downed in Cuernavaca, Jiutepec, Miacatlán, and Tlaltizapán, which resulted in clogged drains. Waterlogging was also reported in these communities.[28] In the State of Mexico, the Mexico-Puebla Highway collapsed due to floods in Chalco de Díaz Covarrubias. The Circuito Exterior Mexiquense was also blocked by flooding between Texcoco and the municipalities of Nezahualcóyotl and Chimalhuacán. Classes at a technological university in Chimalhuacán were suspended due to inclement weather.[30] More than 1,500 homes in the Piedras Negras neighborhood of Chimalhuacán were inundated by floodwaters. The federal and state governments worked in conjunction to implement Plan DN-III to drain floodwaters in the neighborhood. The flood was blamed on the construction of an excavated lane by Mexibús. Contractors had failed to install enough drainage systems to prevent an overflow of Lake Texcoco into the excavated lane that led to neighborhoods nearby.[31] Over 500 dwellings at two colonias in Chicoloapan were flooded.[30] The Papalotla River overflowed its banks near San Salvador Atenco, inundating 370 acres (150 ha) of cropland and flooding several homes.[32]

By July 9, the accumulation of over two weeks of rainfall, including rain from Tropical Storm Chris, flooded a highway connecting Neza and Ecatepec in the State of Mexico, which lacked any form of drainage. To alleviate travel disruptions caused by the standing water, three water pumps and a 100-meter (328 ft) long hose were brought to remove the 60,000 liters (15,850 gallons) of water.[33] Tourist services in Tecolutla, Veracruz, complained to local city council about a large pile of debris remaining from Chris, that posed a danger to tourists and forced the closure of nearby businesses. Although officials and residents of Tecolutla attempted to clear the debris, it was deemed too large and could not be cleared enough to reopen nearby businesses.[34] Food and personal hygiene supplies were distributed to 100 families affected by the storm in Huehuetán, in the coastal region of Chiapas, whom were also placed in shelters.[22] The civil protection of Cuyoaco, Puebla, distributed gallons of bleach, cleaning kits, hygiene kits, mats, and blankets to 75 individuals affected by power outages. Municipal authorities also used machinery to clear roads of debris and mud.[35] Estimates from AON place damage totals from Chris in the millions of dollars.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Contreras, Enya M. (July 3, 2024). "Mueren cuatro policías arrastrados por un río tras paso de la tormenta tropical "Chris" en Veracruz". El Imparcial. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Reportan un muerto y 200 personas evacuadas por 'Chris' en Hidalgo". El Universal (in Spanish). Expreso. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Cientos de personas incomunicadas tras 12 horas de lluvia en Tamaulipas". La Jornada (in Spanish). July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Tomáš Čejka; Antonio Elizondo; Ondřej Hotový; Michal Lörinc. Global Catastrophe Recap First Half 2024 (PDF). AON Benfield (Report). Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  5. ^ John Keefe (July 1, 2024). "Tropical Storm Chris Makes Landfall in Eastern Mexico". The Mew York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Robbie Berg (August 13, 2024). Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Chris (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Hagen, Andrew; Pasch, Richard (June 24, 2024). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Dave Roberts (June 30, 2024). Tropical Depression Three Discussion Number One (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Richard Pasch (July 1, 2024). Tropical Storm Chris Discussion Number 2 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Lisa Bucci (July 1, 2021), Tropical Storm Chris Discussion Number 3, Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center, retrieved July 10, 2024
  11. ^ Monica Danielle (June 30, 2024). "Chris pushing inland over Mexico with heavy rain and flooding". Accuweather. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Staff Writer (July 1, 2024). "La depresión tropical 'Tres' evoluciona a la tormenta 'Chris' sobre el Golfo de México". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Tormenta Tropical "Chris" pone en alerta a 9 estados". El Universal (in Spanish). Yahoo! Noticias. June 30, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Ivaán Sánchez (July 1, 2024). "Tormenta tropical 'Chris' toca tierra en Veracruz; lluvias torrenciales en otras cuatro entidades". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Latin America & The Caribbean 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season - Snapshot #1 (as of 2 July 2024). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Report). ReliefWeb. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Ángel Camarillo (July 1, 2024). "Por "Chris", lluvias de casi 300 milímetros en zonas de montaña de Veracruz". Al Calor Politico. Xalapa, Veracruz. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  17. ^ José Alor (July 2, 2024). "Deslizamiento de tierra deja 600 viviendas afectadas en Veracruz tras el paso de Chris". Uno TV (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  18. ^ Miguel Salazar (July 1, 2024). ""Chris" afectó a 58 colonias de Xalapa; recuento de daños". Diario de Xalapa. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Édgar Pérez (July 1, 2024). "Tormenta tropical "Chris" causa estragos en Veracruz y Chiapas". El Universal. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ Emergency Response Coordination Centre (July 3, 2024). "Mexico - Tropical storm CHRIS (CONAGUA Mexico, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 03 July 2024)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Retrieved July 13, 2024 – via ReliefWeb.
  21. ^ "'Chris' leaves rivers of mud and garbage in streets of Veracruz due to flooding: VIDEO". Milenio. Veracruz Daily Post. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c "Tormenta tropical 'Chris' provoca afectaciones en Veracruz y Chiapas". Informador (in Spanish). July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Pablo Reyes; Jesús García; Agustín González; Sandra Peña (July 1, 2024). "Afectaciones por depresión tropical 'Chris' en Tamaulipas HOY 1 julio" [Tropical Depression 'Chris' affects Tamaulipas TODAY July 1]. Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Pablo Reyes; Jesús García; Agustín González; Sandra Peña (July 1, 2024). "Afectaciones por depresión tropical 'Chris' en Tamaulipas HOY 1 julio" [Tropical Depression 'Chris' affects Tamaulipas TODAY July 1]. Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024. [...] por la presencia de cocodrilos que han salido a través de lagunas y canales por el desbordamiento de los mismos, recomendando no intentar pasar por calles que están completamente inundadas.
  25. ^ Pablo Reyes; Jesús García; Agustín González; Sandra Peña (July 1, 2024). "Afectaciones por depresión tropical 'Chris' en Tamaulipas HOY 1 julio" [Tropical Depression 'Chris' affects Tamaulipas TODAY July 1]. Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024. [...] pero sobre todo porque no han logrado capturar al cocodrilo que desde el domingo hizo aparición en la zona de bañistas.
  26. ^ América Castillo (July 1, 2024). "Suman 26 municipios de Hidalgo con deslaves por tormenta tropical "Chris"". Central Hidalgo Irreverente (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "Lluvias causadas por Chris dejan daños en Oaxaca; siguen las alertas por las precipitaciones". Uno TV (in Spanish). July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Tormenta "tropical" Chris provoca afectaciones en 5 estados, deslaves, desbordamientos e inundaciones". El Gráfico. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Rubicela Cruz (July 2, 2024). "Lluvias por tormenta 'Chris' afectan varios municipios de Morelos". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  30. ^ a b René Ramón (July 1, 2024). "Lluvia afecta principales vialidades en zona oriente del Valle de México". La Jornada. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  31. ^ René Ramón (July 2, 2024). "Continúan los estragos por fuertes lluvias en Chicoloapan, Edomex" (in Spanish). La Jornada. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "Tormenta Chris provoca daños en mil 500 viviendas en Veracruz". La Jornada (in Spanish). Mexico City. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  33. ^ René Ramón (July 9, 2024). "Operadores vacían, por cuenta propia, agua estancada en Periférico Oriente". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  34. ^ Jesús Ruíz (July 9, 2024). "Tras tormenta tropical Chris, palizada en Tecolutla pone en riesgo a turistas". Imagen Del Golfo (in Spanish). Xalapa, Veracruz. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  35. ^ "Cuyoaco: 15 familias afectadas por el paso de la Tormenta Tropical "Chris"". Quinceminutos.MX (in Spanish). July 3, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
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