First Hurricane of 2021: Enrique Drenches Southern Mexico

As a couple regions of disturbed weather kept on being monitored in the Atlantic, including one near the United States, waters over the eastern Pacific have spawned the first hurricane of the 2021 season for either basin - Enrique.

(Photo : Pixabay)

Hurricane Enrique  

Early Friday morning, Enrique was improved to a tropical storm and the fifth named system in the eastern Pacific basin. As of 9 p.m. MDT Sunday, Enrique was gathering winds of 90 mph, or a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and was moving in the direction of the north at 8 mph.

According to Rob Miller, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, the hurricane will continue moving in a general north to northwest motion this week. Enrique will track near the southern tip of Baja California Sur by the middle of the week, likely making landfall as a tropical depression or tropical storm.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said: "The most remarkable impact from Enrique is anticipated to be the heavy rain that will keep falling across southwestern Mexico through the onset of the week from Guerrero to Jalisco." Places that have the highest risk of localized flooding downpours and mudslides will stretch from Acapulco to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

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Tropical Storm Dolores 

Portion of this region was hit with up to 400 millimeters (15.75 inches) of rain and gusty winds from Tropical Storm Dolores. Dolores formed on the 18th of June and dispelled after moving inland on June 20 close to the Michoacán and Colima state border of Mexico.

Rainfall totals of 200-300 millimeters (8-12 inches) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax^TM of 510 millimeters (20 inches) can take place with Enrique. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said dangerous surf will also affect coastal regions of southwest Mexico.

Otherwise, a few gusts to the AccuWeather Local StormMax^TM of 100 km/h (60 mph) can take place along the immediate coast, which is powerful enough to break the limb of a tree and potentially prompt sporadic power outages. Enrique is a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact^TM Scale for Hurricanes, mainly because of flooding in southwestern Mexico.

(Photo : NASA)

Named Storms in the Eastern Pacific 

There is a possibility that some moisture may be drawn distant enough to the north to arrive part of the southwestern U.S. this week. However, if Enrique were to break up before moving closer to the tip of Baja California, Mexico, that potential would decrease.

AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting 14-18 named storms in the eastern Pacific this season with about six to 10 anticipated to become hurricanes. A typical hurricane can dump 6 inches to a foot of rain across an area.

The most powerful winds and heaviest rains occur in the eyewall, the ring of clouds and thunderstorms surrounding the eye closely. 

Related Article: Atlantic Hurricane Season 2021: Here Are the Most Vulnerable Areas

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