Tropical Storm Gert (2005)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Gert
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2005
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Gert (2005).png

Formed=July 23, 2005
Dissipated=July 25, 2005
1-min winds=40
Pressure=1005
Da

Inflated=2
Fatalities=1 direct
Areas=Central Mexico
Hurricane season=2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Gert was the third of six tropical cyclones (three hurricanes, two major hurricanes, and three tropical storms) to make landfall in Mexico during 2005. It formed in July in the Bay of Campeche, becoming the seventh named storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.

As a tropical wave, Gert crossed Honduras and the Yucatán peninsula before organizing into Tropical Depression Seven on the afternoon of July 23 in the Bay of Campeche. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Gert early the next day, gaining the record for the earliest formation of a seventh named storm in an Atlantic hurricane season. Gert strengthened little before making landfall south of Tampico, Tamaulipas late on July 24, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1005 mbar (29.68 inHg). It moved inland over central Mexico before dissipating on the next day. Gert struck in approximately the same area as Hurricane Emily just four days earlier, causing fear of flooding and landslides due to saturated lands. As a precaution, some 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying residences and businesses near the towns of Naranjos and Tamiahua.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave entered the Atlantic Ocean from Africa on July 10, and the wave developed into an area of low pressure while passing over the Cape Verde Islands. Despite the organization, the low failed to develop into a tropical cyclone due to cool waters on the sea surface and wind shear. However, those unfavorable conditions did not completely destroy the wave, as it continued traveling westward through the Lesser Antilles until July 18. That day, while south of Puerto Rico, the wave split in two; the northern half moved northwest and developed into Tropical Storm Franklin over the Bahamas, and the southern half continued westward, with its associated thunderstorm activity increasing.cite web| author=Avila, Lixion | year=2005| title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Gert| publisher=National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate=2006-02-14 | url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL072005_Gert.pdf | format=PDF]

On July 22, a new low pressure area developed while the tropical wave was located over the Gulf of Honduras. However, this area of disturbed weather was unable to develop further, because the storm quickly moved over the Yucatán Peninsula. After its one-day passage through the peninsula, the system entered the Bay of Campeche, but lacked any deep convection. This time, though, the wave quickly developed the deep convection it needed to become a tropical cyclone. In part, this was due to the Sierra Madre Oriental enhancing large-scale rotation of the disturbance by forcing air to flow parallel to the mountain range, instead of through it.cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/gert_study.html | title = NASA Disassembles and Reassembles Tropical Storm Gert | date = April 26, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration] As a result, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida designated it as Tropical Depression Seven, just 255 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.cite web | author = Stewart, Stacy | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al072005.public.001.shtml? | title = Tropical Depression Seven Advisory Number 1, 4:00 PM CDT | date = July 23, 2005 | publisher = National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate= 2006-11-25] Early on the 24^th, the cyclone was upgraded to a tropical storm with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and received the name "Gert". This was the fourth time Gert was used to name an Atlantic storm.

Gert continued to move northwest after becoming a tropical storm, and reached a peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1005 mbar (29.68 inHg). Gert made landfall just 6 miles (10 km) to the southeast of Pánuco,cite web| author = Hernández Unzón, Alberto and Cirilo Bravo, M.G. | title = Resumen de la tormenta tropical "Gert" del Océano Atlántico | year = 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | language = es icon | format = PDF | url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ciclones/tempo2005/atlantico/gert/gert.pdf | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Comision Nacional del Agua] still at peak intensity, at 10:00 p.m. CDT (0000 July 25, UTC).cite web | author = Beven, Jack | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al072005.public.007.shtml? | title = Tropical Storm Gert Advisory Number 7, 10:00 PM CDT | date = July 24, 2005 | publisher = National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate= 2006-11-25] However, due to its interaction with land, the storm quickly weakened back to a tropical depression strength early on July 25, and became a remnant low twelve hours after that. Six hours later, just a day after it made landfall, it dissipated over the mountains of central Mexico.

Preparations

The track of Tropical Storm Gert was slightly more to the north than the National Hurricane Center's initial predictions, giving the storm more time to develop. As a result, the NHC predicted that Gert could intensify further, but this did not occur. The primary emphasis of the forecasts was on the impact the rainfall from Gert could cause, particularly on this area of Mexico, which had been hit previously in the season by other hurricanes.

On July 23, the Mexican "Servicio Meteorológico Nacional" (National Weather Service) issued a tropical storm warning for the eastern Mexican Gulf coast between Palma Sola and Cabo Rojo, as soon as Tropical Depression Seven formed. At that time, a tropical storm watch was issued from Cabo Rojo northward, until reaching La Cruz. That same day, the government of Veracruz declared a state of emergency in 24 municipalities of the state, making money from the National Disaster Fund available to those affected by the storm.cite web | author = Coordinación General de Protección Civil | publisher = Diario Oficial de la Federación | date = July 23, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-25 | title = Declaratoria de emergencia por la presencia de la tormenta tropical “Gert” y sus efectos en diversos municipios del Estado de Veracruz | language = es icon | format = PDF | url = http://www.ordenjuridico.gob.mx/Federal/PE/APF/APC/SEGOB/Declaratorias/05082005(3).pdf] As Gert came closer to the littoral, the tropical storm warning was extended northwards to La Cruz,cite web | author = Avila, Lixion | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al072005.public.002.shtml? | title = Tropical Storm Gert Advisory Number 2, 10:00 PM CDT | date = July 23, 2005 | publisher = National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate= 2006-11-26] and then to La Pesca,cite web | author = Pasch, Richard | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al072005.public.005.shtml? | title = Tropical Storm Gert Advisory Number 5, 10:00 AM CDT | date = July 24, 2005 | publisher = National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate= 2006-11-26] but it was cancelled shortly after landfall.cite web | author = Franklin, James | url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al072005.public.005.shtml? | title = Tropical Depression Gert Advisory Number 8, 4:00 AM CDT | date = July 25, 2005 | publisher = National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate= 2006-11-26]

Tropical Storm Gert struck just south of where Category 3 Hurricane Emily had struck, and where Tropical Storm Bret hit in late June. As a result, there were concerns that serious flooding and mudslides would result due to saturated ground. As a precaution, about 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying residences and businesses near the towns of Naranjos and Tamiahua in Veracruz,cite news | title = Esperan llegada de Gert a Veracruz | author = Staff writer | url = http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/nacional/nID/161089/?print=1 | publisher = Associated Press | date = July 25, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | language = es icon] and about 6,000 throughout Tamaulipas.cite web | title = Síntesis de prensa nacional | author = Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20051127075214/http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/comunicacionsocial/s25-07-05.htm | date = July 25, 2005 | accessdate = 2005-11-27 | publisher = Internet Archive | language = es icon]

Impact

The highest 24-hour rainfall reports were 214.9 mm (8.46 in) in Tamuin, San Luis Potosi, and 185.2 mm (7.29 in) in Tamesi, Tamaulipas. In Veracruz, the highest precipitation reading associated with Gert was 117 mm, (4.61 in) in El Higo.cite web | author = Ochoa Martínez, Carolina A., Alberto Utrera Zárate and José Ricardo Pérez Elorriaga | title = Precipitaciones intensas en el Estado de Veracruz durante 2005 | url = http://www.ii.unam.mx/C3/Publicaciones/Inundaciones%202005%20veracruz/05_PRECIPITACIONES.pdf | format = PDF | language = es icon | publisher = Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | date = September 26, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | pages = 73 | chapter = 5] However, damage overall was minimal, amounting to $6 million (2005 USD, $60 million 2005 MXN),cite web | author = González Olivo, Marisol | url = http://www.diarioveracruz.com/REGIONAL-ANUARIO%204P.htm | title = Veracruz: entre catástrofes naturales y políticas | language = es icon | date = November 25, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-25] and there was only one reported fatality, from a man who was carried away by the La Silla River when he was pushing a stalled car across the flooded stream.cite news | author = Staff writer | publisher = Univision.com | title = Gert dejó un muerto en México | language = es icon | date = July 26, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26]

Tamaulipas

According to the government of Tamaulipas, most of the damage in the state was in farmland and in residents' dwellings, primarily near Matamoros, Valle Hermoso, Reynosa and San Fernando. In Matamoros, part of the city lost power and running water; in Valle Hermoso, two schools were damaged; in Reynosa, 180 people were evacuated from low-lying areas in five districts of the city, while in San Fernando, the main highway through the city was closed, and traffic on the bridge over the Conchos River was restricted to one lane.cite web | publisher = Gobierno de Tamaulipas | title = Gert ya no es peligro para los tamaulipecos | date = July 25, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | url = http://www.tamaulipas.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletines/boletin.asp?no_bol=34&fecha=25/07/2005&secre=SGRAL | language = es icon]

In Mier, the spillway of the Las Blancas Dam was overtopped, causing a river bridge to be destroyed and electric power to be lost, as well.cite web | author = Hernández, Nora Alicia | title = Sin agua y luz 13 municipios | date = July 26, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-25 | publisher = El 5inco | url = http://www.elcinco.net/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1122365510&archive=1122535055&start_from=&ucat=1&do=Archivo | language = es icon] In Río Bravo, 50 families were evacuated as seven collective farms became hard to reach by road; approximately 90% of the residences in the farms were affected by the storm. In Altamira, 200 families were evacuated as well, and relocated to seven shelters. Also, in the municipalities of Burgos, Cruillas, and Méndez there was flooding in collective farms and family dwellings. Overall, the municipalities of Mier, Reynosa, Río Bravo, Valle Hermoso, Matamoros, San Fernando, San Carlos, Burgos, Cruillas, Méndez, Soto la Marina, Mante and Altamira were affected in the state, losing potable water and electricity.

After the storm, the state government promised to take the necessary steps to prevent an outbreak of dengue and West Nile virus;cite web | url = http://www.tamaulipas.gob.mx/saladeprensa/boletines/download.asp?file=/saladeprensa/archs/072005/30/com0006_RESUMEN.doc | format = DOClink | language = es icon | title = Resumen semanal 06, del 23 al 29 de Julio, 2005 | date = July 29, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | publisher = Gobierno de Tamaulipas] however, by June 29, there had already been 187 cases of classic dengue, and 29 of hemorrhagic dengue, up from 8 cases two years before, and none the previous year.cite web | title = Dengue en la costa de Tamaulipas y en la zona centro | author = Jaramillo Alanís, Maria Guadalupe | url = http://www.asiestamaulipas.com/noticia.asp?id=3299&col=3 | language = es icon | publisher = Asi es Tamaulipas | date = June 29, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-29]

Nuevo León

In Nuevo León, about 6,000 residents who lived near the Conchos, Guayalejo, and Grande Rivers were evacuated from their residences across the state. Also, the precipitation from Gert caused about 100 collective farms to become isolated from the rest of the state in the municipality of Montemorelos. In the city, one building was evacuated, as a 100 ft (30 m) fissure appeared on the ground near the structure.

In the municipalities of San Vicente Tancuayalab, Valles and Ebano, 100 people were evacuated.cite web | author = Comisión de Asuntos Fronterizos | title = Síntesis informativa | publisher = Senado de la República | date = June 26, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-11-26 | language = es icon | format = PDF | url = http://www.senado.gob.mx/comisiones/directorio/asuntosfronterizos/Content/sintesis_informativa/sistesis/2005/julio/26-07-05.pdf]

See also

* Tropical cyclone
* List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/GERT.shtml NHC's archive on Tropical Storm Gert]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL072005_Gert.pdf NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Gert]

References