hurricane paul hurricane paul tropical cyclone threatened baja california peninsula october sixteenth tropical cyclone tenth hurricane fifth major hurricane season paul originated trough low pressure west coastline mexico october turning north system quickly organized reaching hurricane status afternoon october afternoon paul reached peak intensity category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale maximum sustained winds mph began weaken rapidly land interaction strong wind shear late october paul degenerated remnant low remnants paul later moved ashore central baja california peninsula prior storm arrival baja california sur hurricane watches warnings issued coastal locations hundreds homes damaged region damage infrastructure significant power outages occurred region result hurricane paul total homes destroyed flooded damage totaled million usd meteorological history september tropical wave emerged western coast africa tracking westward northern portion wave axis led formation tropical storm oscar october southern portion wave continued central atlantic approaching lesser antilles following day disturbance lost thunderstorm activity remained poorly organized remainder trek caribbean_sea central_america october wave emerged time national_hurricane_center nhc began monitoring system characterized disorganized convection broad surface trough formed association wave day environmental conditions expected favor gradual development initially upper level winds marginally favorable thunderstorms remained disorganized nhc estimated chance development early october day system better defined nhc noted system verge tropical cyclone operationally classified utc october post season analysis conducted system revealed attained organization considered tropical depression utc positioned south southwest tracking westward southern periphery subtropical ridge depression steadily strengthened intensifying tropical storm paul hours designation october upper level low positioned west baja california peninsula led break ridge subsequently caused tropical cyclone slow turn northward change direction favorable atmospheric conditions allowed quick rate intensification convective bands association paul gained central dense overcast feature visible satellite imagery addition series microwave passes late evening revealed nearly closed eyewall utc october paul upgraded category hurricane located approximately southwest cabo banding features continued better defined south east center convection eyewall cooled cloud pattern increasingly symmetrical eye intermittently visible satellite imagery later morning following abrupt increase satellite intensity estimates paul upgraded major hurricane category fifth season utc october simultaneously hurricane estimated attained peak intensity miles hour reaching peak intensity hurricane began steadily weaken cold ring thunderstorm activity surrounding eye warmed significantly eye cloud filled cool circulation north northeast height likely south southwesterly wind shear system downgraded category hurricane utc october accelerating northwestward deep southwesterly flow continued unfavorable upper level winds caused low level center rapidly separate convective mass utc paul downgraded category hurricane time little deep thunderstorm activity remained near center hours later system downgraded tropical storm passed west baja california sur remainder shower thunderstorm activity dissipated early october paul declared post tropical cyclone utc following system moved ashore near maintaining gale force winds late evening remnant low level circulation dissipated northwest mexico preparations system posed threat mexico utc october tropical storm watch posted portion central baja california peninsula hours later watch upgraded tropical storm warning tropical storm watches issued north south warning respectively utc october tropical storm warnings upgraded hurricane warning tropical storm warning declared eastern peninsula early day tropical storm warning extended southward include capital afternoon october threat area increased hurricane warnings posted eastern state early day hurricane warnings dropped paul deteriorated tropical storm utc watches warnings discontinued prior arrival paul activities suspended small craft ports cabo activities closed port municipalities placed green alert quickly upgraded yellow alert later orange alert blue alert declared october yellow alert moderate risk activated baja california sur state civil protection authorities brought teams federal electricity water commissions help maintain services storm addition state government opened shelters including towns cabo capacity persons furthermore cranes automobiles mobilized statewide soldiers deployed roughly residents evacuated shelter impact aftermath formative stages paul passed near winds mph gusts mph recorded nearby rain fell storm passage reports hurricane force winds onshore baja california peninsula storm weakened tropical closet approach region hurricane force winds approach peninsula widespread reports gale force winds peak winds mph gusts mph observed peak rainfall total furthermore minimum barometric pressure inhg observed cabo san lucas outer rainbands system brought rains baja california sur october resulting flooding baja california sur residents power height paul northern portion state numerous roads destroyed especially near flooding caused form addition damaged locations significant destruction occurred residents rendered homeless creeks overflowed banks destroying homes homes inundated displacing individuals shelter thirty light poles downed area sustained worst flooding storm combination nearly year worth rainfall storm surge toppled homes collapsed town houses received damage forcing people seek shelter automobiles swept away power lost city city damage roads estimated million million approximately dwellings damaged relation hurricane paul homes region left electricity running water total people taken shelters including overall families people directly affected hurricane light rain recorded aftermath storm mexican navy activated plan provide aid total troops toured damaged areas vehicles state emergency declared municipalities baja california sur october water power road services restored roughly million usd spent help rebuild businesses lost storm
Hurricane Paul (2012)