Hurricane Patricia - October 22-24, 2015

In summary, Hurricane Patricia became a dangerous storm due to warm water providing energy for explosive intensification, high moisture levels, and a lack of upper-level crosswinds. El Niño is believed to have played a role in the storm's formation, but global warming cannot be solely blamed. Hurricane Patricia eventually weakened as it made landfall, but there is still a risk of flooding and landslides. The storm's strength and formation also highlight the differences in naming conventions for similar weather phenomena.
  • #1
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Why did Hurricane Patricia become a monster so quickly?
http://news.yahoo.com/why-did-hurricane-patricia-become-monster-quickly-202419311.html

Plenty of warm water provided the energy what meteorologists call explosive intensification. The air was much moister than usual, adding yet more fuel. And at the same time, upper-level crosswinds — called shear — that restrain a hurricane from strengthening were missing for much of Thursday, meteorologists said.

"I was really astounded," said MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel. "It was over the juiciest part of the eastern Pacific."

El Nino's fingerprints are all over this, meteorologists agreed. And while it fits perfectly into climate scientists' theories of what a warming world will be like, they say global warming can't quite be blamed — yet.

Patricia slams Mexico Pacific Coast as Category 5 hurricane
http://news.yahoo.com/mexicos-pacific-coast-braces-monster-hurricane-patricia-040315825.html
 
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  • #2
Patricia at 200 mph and 9 mile diameter eye vs. Katrina at 175 mph and 37 mile diameter eye...which really is the "strongest" or "most powerful"??
 
  • #3
Global warming is a popular suspect.
 
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34625357
Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all part of the same weather phenomenon but different names are used depending on where the storms are formed. Hurricanes form east of the International Date Line, while typhoons and cyclones form to the west.

The storm apparently weakened rapidly as it moved over the coastline, so the damage was not as great as was thought. On the other hand, some areas are at risk for flooding and landslides.

El Niño is certainly implicated.
 

What is Hurricane Patricia and when did it occur?

Hurricane Patricia was a category 5 hurricane that struck Mexico's Pacific coast on October 22-24, 2015. It was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere.

What were the meteorological impacts of Hurricane Patricia?

Hurricane Patricia brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge to the affected areas. The winds reached speeds of up to 215 mph, causing widespread damage and power outages. The heavy rainfall also caused flash floods and landslides.

How did Hurricane Patricia compare to other hurricanes?

Hurricane Patricia had the highest wind speeds ever recorded in a hurricane, surpassing the previous record set by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It was also the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, with a minimum central pressure of 872 millibars.

What were the human impacts of Hurricane Patricia?

Despite its intensity, there were no reported deaths directly caused by Hurricane Patricia. However, it caused significant damage to infrastructure and left thousands of people without homes. The Mexican government and international organizations provided aid to those affected by the hurricane.

What were the lessons learned from Hurricane Patricia?

Hurricane Patricia highlighted the importance of preparedness and early warning systems in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. It also showed the need for continued research and development in understanding and predicting extreme weather events like hurricanes.

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