Odile (2008)

A tropical depression formed about 105 nautical miles south-southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador, at 1200 UTC on 8 October 2008. The system moved west-northwest and became Tropical Storm Odile on 9 October. Odile tracked generally parallel to the west coast of Mexico, remaining about 40 nautical miles offshore for much of its life. It reached peak intensity on 10–11 October and then weakened quickly under increasing southeasterly wind shear, becoming a remnant low by early 13 October south of Manzanillo.

Odile did not make any confirmed landfalls. The center remained offshore while the storm moved northwestward and then west-northwestward along the Mexican Pacific coast from Guerrero to Colima during 9–12 October. Mexican authorities issued tropical storm watches and warnings and at one point a hurricane watch for portions of the coast in anticipation of strengthening, but the system weakened before any hurricane conditions were observed onshore.

The best estimate of Odile’s maximum intensity was 50 kt (about 58 mph) from 0600 UTC 10 October through 1200 UTC 11 October, with a minimum central pressure near 997 mb. Aircraft and satellite data showed some uncertainty—aircraft measurements late on 11 October sampled weaker winds—but the official best track lists 50 kt and 997 mb as the peak.

Storm surge and heavy rainfall impacts were limited. There were no reports in the NHC record of measured storm surge heights at Mexican coastal stations, and no coastal tide observations indicating major inundation. Rainfall was monitored by satellites and reconnaissance, but the official report did not list significant point rainfall totals for specific cities or counties associated with damaging flooding from Odile.

There were no reported deaths, injuries, or damage attributed to Odile in the official record. The storm’s behavior was notable for remaining very near the coast without making landfall and for uncertain peak intensity estimates—satellite Dvorak estimates suggested 55 kt at times while aircraft and scatterometer data indicated lower values. Forecast track errors through 48 hours were smaller than long-term averages, but intensity forecasts had a high bias and overpredicted strengthening, including several forecasts that called for Odile to reach hurricane strength.