Juliette (2013)

Juliette formed quickly on 28 August 2013 from a tropical wave and a band of disturbed weather in the eastern North Pacific. The small cyclone closed a surface circulation about 100 n mi west of Manzanillo and moved rapidly northwestward. It intensified over about a day, reached peak strength late on 28 to early 29 August, made landfall on 29 August, and then weakened over the mountains and cool waters before becoming a post‑tropical low by 0000 UTC 30 August and dissipating by 31 August.

Juliette made landfall on 29 August near Punta Santa Marina on the southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, at about 0900 UTC. At landfall it was a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 55 knots (about 63 mph). After moving inland the cyclone lost deep convection quickly and weakened as it crossed the peninsula.

The storm’s maximum intensity was 55 kt (63 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 997 mb, reached around 0600–0900 UTC 29 August. These values are supported by surface observations, including a 57‑kt report from the Cabo Pulmo automated station and higher wind measurements aloft at the Sierra Laguna mountain site.

Storm surge was limited; the report does not list widespread surge heights but coastal impacts and downed trees and lines were noted in Cabo San Lucas and surrounding communities. Rainfall totals were modest because Juliette was small and fast-moving: selected totals include 0.93 inch at Cabo San Lucas (El Medano), 0.75 inch at Pescadero Heights (Todos Santos), 0.73 inch at Isla Maria Madre, 0.69 inch at Cabo Colorado (San José), and about 0.46–0.50 inch at Cabo Pulmo and Sierra Laguna.

No direct deaths were reported. One indirect death occurred in Cabo San Lucas when a man was electrocuted by a downed power line. Wind damage knocked down trees and powerlines in Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos, prompted about 1,650 evacuations to shelters, caused some road closures, and temporarily disrupted water service when pumping stations lost power.

Noteworthy aspects include the storm’s very small size and unusually rapid northward motion during genesis, which made its development difficult to anticipate; the system was first given only a medium (30–50%) chance of formation about one day before genesis. Forecast track and intensity verifications were limited by Juliette’s short life, but the NHC issued tropical storm warnings for portions of southwestern Baja California Sur as the storm approached.