Carlos (2009)

A tropical disturbance that began over Africa on 25 June moved across the Atlantic and into the eastern North Pacific, where it organized into a tropical depression at 0600 UTC on 10 July 2009 about 780 nautical miles south of the southern tip of Baja California. The system moved generally westward along about 10°N. It strengthened to a tropical storm later on 10 July, became a small hurricane on 11 July, weakened to a tropical storm on 13 July, then re-intensified to reach peak strength on 15 July before rapidly weakening and dissipating by 0000 UTC 17 July about 1,900 nautical miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

Carlos did not make any landfalls. It remained well offshore throughout its life, and no watches or warnings were required for Mexico or any other land areas.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds peaked at 90 knots (about 104 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 971 mb at 0000 UTC 15 July. At peak intensity Carlos was a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Earlier it reached 75 knots (about 86 mph) on 12 July during its first period as a hurricane.

There were no reports of storm surge associated with Carlos and no reported rainfall impacts in populated areas in the official report. Because Carlos remained far from land, the report does not list specific surge heights or heavy rainfall totals for cities or counties.

No deaths or damage were reported in connection with Carlos. The hurricane was notable for its rapid and large changes in intensity and for becoming the strongest hurricane so far south in the eastern North Pacific in the reliable record (since 1971). Forecasting was difficult for this storm: genesis was not well anticipated and both track and intensity forecasts had larger-than-average errors, with official forecasts failing to capture the periods of rapid intensification and rapid weakening.