Lorenzo (2007)

A tropical depression formed about 150 nautical miles east-northeast of Tuxpan, Mexico on 25 September 2007 from a tropical wave that had moved off Africa in mid-September. The system moved slowly and made a small loop before turning westward. It became Tropical Storm Lorenzo on 27 September and strengthened rapidly overnight into a hurricane; the cyclone weakened quickly after moving inland and dissipated by 29 September.

Lorenzo made landfall on 28 September near Tecolutla (about 35 nautical miles south-southeast of Tuxpan), Mexico. The official landfall time was 0500 UTC 28 September. The circulation weakened rapidly after landfall and the system was a tropical depression by 1200 UTC the same day.

Maximum sustained winds at peak intensity were 70 knots (about 80 mph), with a minimum central pressure of 990 mb, corresponding to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The best-track analysis notes a slightly lower intensity of 65 kt (about 75 mph) at landfall.

Measured rainfall totals included 12.83 inches at El Raudal, Veracruz and 11.83 inches at Xicotepec; several other stations across Veracruz and nearby states recorded between about 3.5 and 9.5 inches (for example, Patla 9.45 in, Poza Rica 6.28 in, Tuxpan 6.52 in). No official land-based reports of tropical-storm-force winds were recorded; storm surge and storm-tide measurements are listed in the official observations but the highest specific surge values at named locations were not reported in the summary tables.

Mexican authorities reported six deaths associated with Lorenzo: one in Veracruz and five in Puebla. At least four deaths were from flash floods or mudslides. Reported impacts included washed-out roads, flooded homes, downed trees and power lines, roof damage in the seaside town of Nautla, damage to about 169 homes in Puebla, landslides blocking many roadways, and evacuations along the San Lorenzo River in Hidalgo.

Noteworthy aspects include the rapid intensification from tropical storm to hurricane in under 12 hours as the system approached the coast, and a possible brief earlier period of hurricane-force winds sampled by aircraft instruments that were judged not to represent the full circulation. Forecasters anticipated the system’s formation about 24 hours before genesis; average official track errors for Lorenzo were smaller than long-term means, but the hurricane-strengthening was not forecast until roughly 9 hours before landfall.