Ignacio (2021)

An area of disturbed weather that began as an African easterly wave moved into the eastern North Pacific in late July. A broad low formed near the wave, and a well-defined center developed by 1800 UTC 31 July. The system became a tropical cyclone around 1200 UTC 1 August about 350 nautical miles south‑southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Ignacio moved generally west‑northwest to northwest through 3 August, then turned north and east‑southeast as it weakened, becoming a remnant low by 0000–1200 UTC 4 August and dissipating about 340 nmi west‑southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

Ignacio did not make landfall. The center passed about 15–20 nautical miles northeast of Clarion Island, Mexico, on 2 August, but otherwise remained well offshore and no coastal watches or warnings were required.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds peaked at 35 knots (40 mph) around 1200 UTC 2 August and remained at that intensity through 0000 UTC 3 August. The estimated minimum central pressure at peak was 1004 millibars. Ignacio was a weak tropical storm at peak strength and never reached hurricane strength.

Because Ignacio stayed over the open ocean, impacts were minimal. The most notable observations were from Clarion Island, where the pressure fell to 1006.5 mb around 1400 UTC 2 August and a Mexican Navy station reported sustained winds of 22 kt with a gust to 33 kt. A wind gust of 34 kt was observed at Socorro Island on 1 August. There were no reports of storm surge or significant rainfall totals on populated coastlines.

No damage or casualties were reported. Forecasts initially missed the long‑range chance of genesis but performed adequately in the short range; official track errors were larger than typical for recent years while intensity forecasts had near‑zero error because Ignacio’s peak and weakening were well anticipated.