Tropical Storm Agatha (2010)
Tropical Storm Agatha was a weak, but catastrophic tropical cyclone that caused extensive flooding in Central America. The storm caused the highest number of people living in the eastern Pacific since Hurricane Pauline in the Pacific hurricane season of 1997. Had The first storm of the Pacific hurricane season 2010 its origin in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a storm zone within the tropics. The resulting area of disturbed weather developed on May 29 in a tropical depression, which was able to briefly intensify into a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 km / h and a minimum air pressure in the center of 1000 hPa, there are already 30 May on the mainland in Guatemala dissolved. Before the dissolution of Agatha arrived on the evening of May 29 in the vicinity of the border between Guatemala and Mexico by land. Agatha led productive heavy rain to Central America, which resulted in several states to personal injury. At least 180 people were killed. In Nicaragua, a man died. In Guatemala, at least 152 people were killed, over 100 were still missing four days after the landfall of the storm. Nine human lives the storm in El Salvador and at least 16 in Honduras.
Storm History
The first took Agatha in an area of convection and thunderstorms, that developed on May 24 off the west coast of Costa Rica. At the time covered in the region, a trough that extended into the southwestern Caribbean Sea and was associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone in conjunction. The system gradually drifted northwestward, and conditions appeared favorable for tropical cyclogenesis another. On May 25, the convection began to focus more and the National Hurricane Center (NHC ) noted that the potential for the formation of a tropical low pressure area was. The next day, the system appeared disorganized though, as it expanded the atmospheric circulation and auswalzte. However, the disturbance was in a very humid environment and several ground-level circulation gradually consolidated into a single one. Thus, the system organized by little better; however, still lacking a well-defined circulation. On 29 May, after circulation and convection had continued to improve, the NHC took the issuance of warnings to the Tropical Depression One -E. At this time, the center of the system was about 475 kilometers west of San Salvador.
When the system a tropical cyclone was, it was in an environment with little wind shear and the water had a surface temperature of 30 ° C. Therefore, it was expected that the system intensified, although the mountains to the Central American coast have hampered any significant gain. The area of low pressure moves slowly on the western periphery of a ridge over the north of South America northeastward over. A few hours later interpreted the images of the satellites observed the system out templates the wind speeds in gale force, so that the NHC classified the high depression to Tropical Storm Agatha. At the time we went with a forty percent probability of a rapid intensification within 24 hours, with the proximity to the mainland was the only limiting factor.
However, it did not make the storm to intensify significantly; he achieved by a sustained peak wind speeds of 75 km / h and an air pressure of 1000 hPa its peak. Within two hours after reaching this strength Agatha shifted northward abruptly and crossed near the Guatemalan - Mexican border the coast.
About the mainland Agatha furthermore led to flash floods, floods and landslides, although the winds that came ashore, barely reaching storm strength. Overland storm quickly lost strength and the ongoing wind speeds went to 40 km / h back and the central air pressure rose to 1007 hPa, before dissolving the system. Although an outbreak of convection reached on May 31 over the Caribbean waters east of Belize in the Atlantic basin, but could not develop tropical characteristics, the remnant low of Agatha.
Preparations
As the tropical disturbance developed yet, it produced heavy rainfall on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua to the Gulf of Tehuantepec, so that the NHC warned of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. As the system developed for tropical cyclone, storm warnings for the coast of El Salvador and Guatemala were proclaimed. The NHC noted that Agatha had the potential for precipitation of 250 to 500 mm. The authorities in Guatemala warned the people that the expected by Agatha floods would be worse than the floods that occurred one week before the arrival of Agatha and the nine people were killed. Meteorologists in Mexico said in connection with Agatha up to 100 mm rainfall in the southern states ahead. Due to the risk of flash floods occur, the authorities brought in El Salvador and Nicaragua, around 2,000 people to safer zones. For the whole country the yellow warning level has been declared, because the authorities assumed that about 89 percent of the country was threatened by floods in El Salvador. Around 52,000 man police, rescue workers and soldiers have been moved from the Dirección General de Protección Civil standby.
Effects
Nicaragua
Even before the storm Agatha later developed into a tropical depression, the system produced heavy rain in Nicaragua; thus was killed because she was swept away by a swollen river a person. Many houses and bridges within the state were destroyed. In the department of Estelí Nicaragua, the Air Force had to rescue 24 people who were trapped in their homes.
Guatemala
Two days before the landfall of Hurricane broke the volcano Pacaya from. This is located about 40 km south of Guatemala City. The outbreak demanded a human life and forced more than 2,000 people who lived in the immediate area, to flee. Volcanic ash led to the international airport of the city had to be closed. From heavy rains through the tropical storm a deterioration of the situation for the population affected was expected also the occurrence of lahars was feared. However, the workers on the coffee plantations had hoped to see the rain a relief, as it may flush the volcanic ash from the coffee trees. Guatemalan meteorologists stated that until the evening of the 29th May, at least 350 mm of rain had fallen. Several landslides blocked roads especially in the south and disabled so the traffic and delayed relief supplies. After the storm formed in the capital of a hole with a diameter of 30 meters, which sank a three-story house.
Geologists do not yet know what caused the formation of the hole. The geologist Sam Bonis, who has studied a similar hole after breaking a sewer only a few streets away was 2007, protested against the use of the word sinkhole. Rather, in his view, the risk that sooner or later breaks the whole surface. A large part of Guatemala City is built on a volcanic debris level. This ground was not stable and could break. 1-1.5 million inhabitants of the city live in such a zone.
A landslide in the town in the department of Quetzaltenango Almolonga destroyed a home and killed four residents, in the same way died in Guatemala City twelve people, after another landslide are eleven people missing. Many more homes were destroyed by floods and dozens of rescue operations had to be performed to bring the affected residents to safety. President Álvaro Colom told the press: " We believe that Agatha could do more harm to the country as Hurricane Mitch and Hurricane Stan". These two hurricanes were among the most destructive tropical cyclones that have hit ever Guatemala. You were 384 or 1513 people to the victim.
Mexico
In southern Mexico Agatha led to strong winds and rainfall as well as strong waves with a wave height of two to four meters. At least 120 families were brought to safety in southeastern Chiapas, near the landfalls. A yellow alarm has been triggered as a precaution, because substantial flooding were expected.
Honduras
After Agatha moved inland, associated with the system torrential rain triggered in parts of Honduras from flash floods and landslides. At least 45 homes were destroyed in the state and at least one person was killed. On 31 May, the President of El Salvador and Honduras declared a state of emergency for their respective states.
El Salvador
In El Salvador it was related to the heavy rains also cause flooding. In San Salvador and five other cities threatened by flooding the civil defense called on the residents to seek shelter. The highest recorded rainfall in the country was 400 mm; However, the storm lasted related rains after the measurement on yet. A total of 188 landslides were recorded in the state until May 31. In the country at least nine people were killed by the effects of the tropical storm, 8717 people had to be evacuated. In addition, collapsed two bridges, including one that connects El Salvador with Guatemala.