Hurricane Erika (2003)

Hurricane Erika (2003)

Hurricane Erika was a weak hurricane that struck extreme northeastern Mexico near the Texas-Tamaulipas border in mid-August of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Erika produced moderate amounts of rainfall, resulting in mudslides and flooding in northeastern Mexico. The threat of Erika prompted the evacuation of 51 oil platforms and 3 oil rigs in the western Gulf ofMexico.

About Hurricane Erika (2003) in brief

Summary Hurricane Erika (2003)Hurricane Erika was a weak hurricane that struck extreme northeastern Mexico near the Texas-Tamaulipas border in mid-August of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm developed from a non-tropical area of low pressure that was tracked for five days before developing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on August 14. At first, the National Hurricane Center operationally did not designate it as a hurricane because initial data suggested winds of 70 mph at Erika’s peak intensity. It was not until later data was analyzed that the NHC revised it to Category 1 intensity in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Erika produced moderate amounts of rainfall, resulting in mudslides and flooding in northeastern Mexico. Two people were killed when their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters.

The lack of production led to a loss of 8,708 barrels of oil per day and 173.14 million cubic feet of natural gas per day on the day of its landfall. The hurricane quickly weakened over the mountainous Sierra Madre Oriental, and Erika dissipated early on August 17. The mid-level circulation maintained integrity as it crossed Mexico, and led to the formation of a tropical disturbance after entering the Gulf of California on August 18. It turned to the northwest and weakened on August 20. The threat of Erika prompted the evacuation of 51 oil platforms and 3 oil rigs in the western Gulf ofMexico. However, due to the passage of the storm, the loss of production for the day was equivalent to 0.9% of the total daily production.