Gert (2005)

A tropical wave that moved off Africa on 10 July crossed the Atlantic and, after producing other disturbances, spawned a low in the Gulf of Honduras on 22 July. That low moved into the Bay of Campeche and organized into a tropical depression at 1800 UTC 23 July about 255 nautical miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Gert by 0600 UTC 24 July. Gert moved generally west-northwestward into the southern Bay of Campeche, reached its peak intensity just before landfall, then crossed western Veracruz and weakened over the high terrain, dissipating by 0000 UTC 26 July.

Gert made landfall just north of Cabo Rojo, Mexico, at 0000 UTC 25 July (local evening of 24 July), while at its maximum intensity. After landfall it moved west-northwestward across inland Mexico, weakened to a depression by 0600 UTC 25 July, and degenerated into a remnant low and then dissipated over the interior by 0000 UTC 26 July.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 40 knots (about 46 mph) and its minimum central pressure at peak was 1005 millibars. At peak intensity Gert was a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength).

Storm surge was not a prominent feature in the report; the official record emphasizes heavy rain as the primary hazard. Specific large-scale rainfall or storm-surge measurements are not provided in the report, and no surge heights or notable rainfall totals at named cities or counties are listed in the NHC summary for this system.

There were no reports of casualties or damage associated with Gert. The Mexican government issued tropical storm warnings for parts of eastern Mexico from Palma Sola to Cabo Rojo (and later extended northward) because of the storm’s large wind field and the primary threat of heavy rainfall, especially in areas recently affected by Hurricane Emily. Forecasts successfully predicted the storm’s development and general west-northwest track; official track errors for Gert were smaller than the 1995–2004 average.