Cristina (2008)

A tropical depression formed around 1800 UTC on 27 June 2008 about 900 nautical miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California after a tropical wave moved into the eastern North Pacific. The system strengthened to Tropical Storm Cristina by 1200 UTC on 28 June and moved generally westward. Cristina reached its peak late on 28 June, held near peak strength into the first half of 29 June, then weakened and lost most convection by 1200 UTC on 30 June. The remnant low continued westward and then southwestward, finally dissipating on 3 July about 1,700 nautical miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

Cristina did not make landfall. The storm remained well offshore of Mexico and the Baja California peninsula throughout its lifetime, so no coastal landfalls were recorded.

Maximum sustained winds reached 45 knots (about 52 mph) with the minimum central pressure estimated at 999 mb at 0000 UTC 29 June. At its peak intensity Cristina was a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength).

Because Cristina stayed far from land, there were no reports of storm surge impacts tied to the cyclone, and no measured surge heights were reported. Rainfall amounts directly attributed to Cristina were not reported in association with any populated locations in the official record.

There were no reported deaths, injuries, or damage from Cristina. The storm had minimal impacts because it remained over open water and well away from populated coastlines.

Noteworthy details: Cristina’s formation was not anticipated long in advance—the disturbance was first mentioned in the Tropical Weather Outlook about 30 hours before genesis and the probability of development was raised rapidly over the 18–12 hour period before formation. No watches or warnings were required, and official track and intensity forecasts performed at or better than their recent averages for this small, short-lived system.