Hurricane Bud (2018)

Hurricane Bud was the first of six tropical cyclones to make a landfall in Mexico during the 2018 Pacific hurricane season. Bud was a powerful tropical cyclone that produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding across Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. However, the storm resulted in only minor damage. The second named storm, hurricane, and major hurricane of the season, Bud originated from a tropical wave that departed from Africa on May 29. It then traveled across the Atlantic Ocean before crossing over South America and entering the Northeast Pacific Ocean late on June 6. The system then moved northwest and steadily organized, becoming a tropical depression late on June 9 and Tropical Storm Bud early the next day. Favorable upper-level winds and ample moisture allowed the storm to rapidly intensify to a hurricane late on June 10 and further to a major hurricane on June 11. Bud ultimately peaked the next morning with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg). It curved north while rapidly succumbing to the effects of ocean upwelling, making landfall on Baja California Sur as a minimal tropical storm early on June 15. On the next day, land interaction and increasing wind shear caused Bud to degenerate to a remnant low, and Bud dissipated completely on June 16.

Hurricane Bud
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Bud as a Category 3 storm on June 11
FormedJune 9, 2018
DissipatedJune 16, 2018
(Remnant low after June 15)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure943 mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg
Fatalities1 total
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedBaja California Peninsula, Northwestern Mexico, Southwestern United States (especially Arizona)
Part of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season

Bud prompted the issuance of multiple watches and warnings for Baja California Sur and Western Mexico. Additionally, Bud caused one death in Mexico City. Damages from the storm were reported to be minimal. Rains from Bud brought relief to drought-stricken areas and slowed the growth of wildfires in the Southwestern United States.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Hurricane Bud originated from a tropical wave that left the west coast of Africa on May 29. The wave travelled westward across low latitudes in the tropical Atlantic with little convection for the next several days. Late on June 6, the wave crossed over northern South America and entered the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.[1] However, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) had been advertising the possibility of future tropical development since June 4.[2] Despite strong upper-level winds, the disturbance began to slowly organize late on June 7.[3] On the next day, thunderstorm activity increased considerably a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec due to a passing Kelvin wave, with an area of low pressure forming early on June 9.[1] Deep convection wrapped around the western and southern semicircles of an increasingly defined circulation, prompting the NHC to designate the system as a tropical depression at 21:00 UTC on the same day, while it was positioned about 365 miles (590 km) south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.[4] As wind shear decreased, upper-level outflow improved and several bands of intense convection coalesced around the newly-formed cyclone; it intensified into Tropical Storm Bud six hours after formation.[5][1]

With a mid-level ridge positioned across much of Mexico, Bud travelled generally northwestward for the next several days. The storm's cloud pattern organized into a central dense overcast early on June 10,[6] and microwave imagery showcased the formation of a mid-level eye. Amid favorable environmental conditions, the NHC noted rapid intensification as a distinct possibility, especially as the inner core improved in structure.[7] By 18:00 UTC on June 10, a ragged eye became apparent intermittently on visible satellite imagery, and Bud was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane accordingly.[8][1] An abrupt period of intensification quickly brought the cyclone to Category 2 strength by 06:00 UTC the next morning,[1] but this process temporarily levelled off as the eye became less distinct.[9] Bud attained Category 3 intensity by 12:00 UTC.[1] Thereafter, the ring of eyewall convection and the temperature of the storm's eye fluctuated.[10] After maintaining a clear eye for several hours, Bud ultimately attained its peak intensity as a Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg), at 00:00 UTC on June 12.[11][1]

Tropical Storm Bud approaching the Baja California Peninsula on June 14

Despite exhibiting trochoidal oscillations as is typical for major hurricanes, Bud continued to move generally north-northwestward after peak. Progressively cooler water and ocean heat content values near zero resulted in significant ocean upwelling underneath the cyclone, leading to a rapid reduction in central convection. Bud then began to weaken, falling to Category 1 intensity by 06:00 UTC on June 13 as its eye disappeared.[12][1] Bud continued to weaken, falling to tropical storm status 6 hours later. The cyclone then levelled off in strength as the ocean upwelling beneath it abated.[13] Bud made landfall near Cabo San Lucas shortly after 02:00 UTC on June 15, with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), before progressing into the Gulf of California. Strong wind shear and land interaction reduced the storm to a remnant low by 12:00 UTC. On June 16 at 06:00 UTC, Bud's remnant low dissipated.[1]

Preparations and impact

At 21:00 UTC on June 10, as Bud strengthened off the coast of Mexico, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm watch from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, with the possibility that Bud's large wind field could bring gale-force winds to that portion of the Mexican coast.[8] The watch was later discontinued at 21:00 UTC on June 11 as Bud began to move away from the area.[14] Later on, as Bud was anticipated to make landfall on the Baja California Peninsula as a tropical storm, tropical storm warnings were issued for much of southern Baja California Sur on June 13, including the cities of La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.[15] As Bud neared landfall, new tropical storm watches were issued for La Paz to San Evaristo, as well as from Altata to Huatabampo on the mainland.[16] An orange alert was also instated for the popular tourist destination of Los Cabos Municipality, where roughly 21,000 tourists were residing during the storm.[17] These watches and warnings were progressively discontinued as Bud moved further into the Gulf of California and weakened to a tropical depression on June 15.[18][19]

Tropical Storm Bud made landfall near Cabo San Lucas just after 02:00 UTC on June 15 with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (55 km/h),[1] bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to the southern Baja California Peninsula.[20] A weather station in Cabo San Lucas recorded sustained winds of 39 mph (63 km/h) and a gust to 47 mph (76 km/h).[21] Another station recorded a gust to 66 mph (106 km/h).[20] Schools within Los Cabos Municipality were closed, and ten flights at Los Cabos International Airport were cancelled,[17] though the airport resumed normal operations soon after.[22] Ports in the municipality were also closed beginning June 13.[22] The Carnival Splendor was forced to divert from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego.[23][24] Overall, damage was significantly less than that wrought by Hurricane Odile four years prior.[22][1] It was also reported that rainfall from Bud killed a child in Mexico City.[25]

The remnants of Bud sent a plume of moisture into the Southwestern United States, bringing much needed rainfall to the drought-stricken region. Tucson, Arizona reported its first precipitation since February 28, with 0.17 in (4.3 mm) of rain on June 15. Flash flood watches were issued for parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.[26] Rain from Bud slowed the growth of the 416 Fire in southwestern Colorado and a fire in southern Wyoming.[27][28]

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See also

References
  1. Blake, Eric S. Hurricane Bud (EP032018) (PDF). National Hurricane Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  2. John P. Cangialosi (June 4, 2018). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. John L. Beven II (June 7, 2018). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  4. David A. Zelinsky (June 9, 2018). Tropical Depression Three-E Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  5. Lixion A. Avila (June 9, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Discussion Number 2 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  6. Richard J. Pasch (June 10, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Discussion Number 3 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  7. Lixion A. Avila (June 10, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Discussion Number 4 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  8. Lixion A. Avila (June 10, 2018). Hurricane Bud Discussion Number 5 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  9. Richard J. Pasch (June 11, 2018). Hurricane Bud Discussion Number 7 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  10. Lixion A. Avila (June 11, 2018). Hurricane Bud Discussion Number 8 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  11. Richard J. Pasch (June 12, 2018). Hurricane Bud Discussion Number 11 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  12. Robbie J. Berg (June 13, 2018). Hurricane Bud Discussion Number 14 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  13. Stacy R. Stewart (June 13, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Discussion Number 16 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  14. Lixion A. Avila (June 11, 2018). Hurricane Bud Advisory Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  15. Stacy R. Stewart (June 13, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Advisory Number 16 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. Stacy R. Stewart (June 14, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Advisory Number 21 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  17. "Mexico declares 'orange alert' as Tropical Storm Bud buffets Baja resort area". The Japan Times. Agence France-Presse. June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. Lixion A. Avila (June 15, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Advisory Number 23 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  19. Michael J. Brennan (June 15, 2018). Tropical Depression Bud Advisory Number 24 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  20. "Tropical Storm Bud Is Lashing Southern Baja California Peninsula, Including Los Cabos, Mexico, With Gusty Winds, Rain and High Surf". Weather Underground. June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  21. Stacy R. Stewart (June 14, 2018). Tropical Storm Bud Discussion Number 21 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  22. Williams, Juliet (June 15, 2018). "Strong winds from Tropical Storm Bud hit Mexico's Los Cabos". Associated Press. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  23. Foo, Sasha. "Carnival Splendor diverted to San Diego as Hurricane Bud approaches coast of Puerto Vallarta". Kusi News. Kusi News. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  24. Summers, Alicia. "Tropical storm Bud forces Carnival cruise ship to detour to San Diego". CBS8. CBS. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  25. "Las lluvias provocan la muerte de un menor en la Ciudad de México". Expansion (in Spanish). CNN Español. June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  26. Donegan, Brian (June 16, 2018). "Moisture From the Remnants of Bud Is Spreading Needed-Rainfall Into the Southwest". Weather Underground. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  27. "Hurricane Bud Leftovers Sweep Helpful Rain Over Colorado, Wyoming Wildfires". Colorado Public Radio. Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  28. Semadeni, Alex. "'It's the perfect kind of rain'". The Durango Herald. The Durango Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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