A small tropical cyclone formed in the southern Bay of Campeche on 25 August 2013. A tropical depression developed about 1200 UTC roughly 35 nautical miles north-northeast of Coatzacoalcos and strengthened to Tropical Storm Fernand later that day. Fernand moved generally west-northwestward toward the Mexican coast, reaching peak intensity just before making landfall on 26 August, then weakened over the mountainous interior and dissipated late on 26 August near Tulancingo.
Fernand made landfall near Zempoala, Mexico (about 25 nautical miles north-northwest of Veracruz) at 0445 UTC on 26 August 2013 with estimated sustained winds of 50 kt (about 58 mph). After landfall the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression and its center dissipated the same day as it moved inland over Hidalgo state.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds at peak were 50 kt (about 58 mph), with a best-track minimum central pressure of 1001 mb. Those values are the basis for Fernand being classified as a moderate tropical storm at its peak intensity.
Storm surge and heavy rain caused the main impacts. Observed storm surge/coastal wind effects included sustained winds to 45 kt and gusts to 63 kt at Veracruz Harbor and Sacrifice Island near Veracruz. Rainfall totals of 5–9 inches were common across Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, and Hidalgo. The highest measured totals during Fernand’s life were 8.55 inches in the city of Veracruz, 8.46 inches at Sierra Gorda (San Luis Potosí), 7.36 inches at Temamatla (San Luis Potosí), and 5.45 inches at Tulancingo (Hidalgo).
Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides. Mexican officials reported 13 deaths in Veracruz from landslides (nine in Yecuatla, three in Tuxpan, one in Atzalán) and one additional drowning in Oaxaca, for a total of 14 deaths. Damage included mudslide damage to about 100 houses, flooding along several rivers, road and highway damage in Oaxaca, and power outages affecting over 100,000 homes. No official monetary damage estimate was provided.
Fernand was notable for its rapid organization shortly after entering the Bay of Campeche and for limited advance warning of genesis; the system was given a low chance of formation in official outlooks about 36 hours before it became a depression and was upgraded to high probability only about 6 hours before genesis. Forecast verifications were limited because the storm’s short life produced only a small number of official forecasts.
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Upgrade for county-specific summariesSummary above produced from the National Hurricane Center's official post-storm Tropical Cyclone Report. Read the full report for casualty lists, damage estimates by area, forecast critique, and detailed meteorological discussion:
📄 Read NHC's full report on Fernand → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-08-25 12:00 | TD | 18.70 | -94.20 | 30 | 1006 | |
| 2013-08-25 18:00 | TS | 18.90 | -95.10 | 45 | 1004 | |
| 2013-08-26 00:00 | TS | 19.20 | -95.90 | 50 | 1001 | |
| 2013-08-26 04:45 | TS | 19.50 | -96.30 | 50 | 1001 | Landfall |
| 2013-08-26 06:00 | TS | 19.70 | -96.60 | 45 | 1002 | |
| 2013-08-26 12:00 | TD | 20.10 | -97.30 | 30 | 1005 | |
| 2013-08-26 18:00 | LO | 20.50 | -98.20 | 25 | 1009 |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 best-track database (nhc.noaa.gov/data). Data is in the public domain. Best-track positions and intensities are post-storm reanalysis estimates and may differ from real-time advisories.