Hurricane Lorena was a strong tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides to Southwestern Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula in September 2019. Lorena was the thirteenth named storm and seventh hurricane of 2019 Pacific hurricane season. Lorena formed from the stronger of two disturbances off the coast of Mexico. The disturbance closest to Mexico became Tropical Storm Lorena, while the other disturbance became Tropical Storm Mario. Lorena strengthened in a favorable environment, and made landfall as a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane in southwestern Mexico on September 18, but weakened back to a tropical storm due to land interaction. However, after moving back over water between Baja California Sur and mainland Mexico, Lorena re-strengthened into a hurricane, and reached its peak intensity with 85 mph winds and a minimum barometric pressure of 986 millibars. Lorena made a second landfall on Baja California Sur, and quickly weakened thereafter. Lorena degenerated to a remnant low over the Gulf of California. The remnant low moved inland over Mexico and quickly dissipated.
Meteorological history
At 15:00 UTC September 11, the NHC noted the possibility of a low pressure region forming off of the Central American coast. At 6:00 UTC September 14, a low pressure area formed and slowly developed and by 15:00 UTC September 17, it developed into Tropical Storm Lorena off of the coast of Mexico. Lorena gradually moved northwest towards the coast of Mexico while strengthening and by 3:00 UTC September 19, Lorena reached an initial peak intensity of 75 mph. Interaction with land caused Lorena to weaken below hurricane status by 15:00 UTC September 19. Lorena continued moving west-northwestward and regained hurricane status by 15:00 UTC September 20. Lorena would intensify further and peak at 21:00 UTC September 20 with winds at 85 mph and a pressure of 985 millibars. By midday on September 21, Lorena's structure began to deteriorate. Due to increasing wind shear and weakening caused by the mountainous terrain of Baja California, Lorena degenerated into a tropical depression by mid-morning on September 22, becoming a remnant low by that evening.
Lorena moved very close to shore and interacted with land in the states of Colima and Jalisco. Flooded streets, washed out roads, minor slides in 10 municipalities, and dozens of downed trees were reported. Power was knocked out in some areas. Governor of Colima, José Ignacio Peralta, stated that nearly 8 inches of rain fell over the course of 24 hours, and more than 7,400 acres of crops such as bananas and papayas were damaged statewide. He also reported that no one had died due to Lorena. Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, stated on Twitter that Civil Protection services and the navy are attending to people in need, but there have been no reports of loss of life. The Cuixmala River broke its banks in the municipality of La Huerta and flooded agricultural land. Damage in Jalisco were calculated at 17.7 million pesos.
Baja California Sur
Once Lorena moved along the southwestern coast of Mexico, the government of Mexico issued a hurricane watch for the southern coast of Baja California as the storm was expected to make landfall there as a hurricane. Once it moves away from the coast and started moving closer to Baja California Sur, people started to barricade doors and windows and pull their boats from the ocean in preparation for Lorena's inevitable impacts. Government officials closed down schools and will convert it to shelters if conditions warrants. As Lorena started to move parallel to the peninsula's coast, authorities in Los Cabos said that 787 people have taken refuge in 18 shelters; however, many tourists did not take precautions and still traveled to Los Cabos despite Lorena. Many flights in and out of Los Cabos International Airport were canceled on Friday. The Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil declared a state of emergency in La Paz and Los Cabos, Baja California Sur on September 22. In Los Cabos, a father and son were swept out to sea by a large wave. The father ultimately drowned while trying to save his son.
