Aletta (2006)

A tropical disturbance that moved off Central America gradually organized into a tropical depression about 165 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, on 27 May 2006. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Aletta later that day, reached peak intensity on 28 May while about 110 nmi southwest of Acapulco, then turned west and executed a small counterclockwise loop. Weakening began on 29 May and Aletta became a remnant low by 31 May, shortly thereafter dissipating over the eastern North Pacific.

Aletta did not make any landfalls along the Mexican coast. Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued from Punta Maldonado westward (and briefly eastward to Puerto Escondido), but those coastal warnings were ultimately not associated with a direct landfall.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 40 knots (46 mph) and its lowest central pressure was 1002 millibars, corresponding to a weak tropical storm at peak. It never reached hurricane strength.

Rainfall totals of about 3.0 to 3.5 inches were measured at a few locations in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas; higher amounts likely occurred in some mountainous areas of southern Mexico. The report did not document any storm surge measurements for coastal communities.

There were no reports of damage or casualties—no confirmed direct or indirect deaths were associated with Aletta. The impacts were limited to localized heavy rains in southern Mexico without reported flooding.

Forecasts detected the precursor disturbance several days in advance, but formal Tropical Weather Outlooks did not note the likely formation of a tropical depression until about 13 hours before genesis. Official track and intensity forecast errors for Aletta were generally near or below long-term averages, though the issued tropical storm warning for the coast proved to be unnecessary.