Hurricane Isis (1998)

Hurricane Isis (1998)

Hurricane Isis was the only hurricane to make landfall during the 1998 Pacific hurricane season. It was the ninth tropical storm and sixth hurricane of the season, and the only one of the 1998 season to be classified as a Category 5 or higher hurricane. In Mexico, Isis destroyed over 700 houses and killed 14 people; this is primarily due to its heavy rainfall which peaked at over 20 inches.

About Hurricane Isis (1998) in brief

Summary Hurricane Isis (1998)Hurricane Isis was the only hurricane to make landfall during the 1998 Pacific hurricane season. Isis developed on September 1 from an interaction between a tropical wave and a large surface circulation to the southwest of Mexico. It moved northward, striking the extreme southeastern portion of the Baja California peninsula before attaining hurricane status in the Gulf of California. Isis made landfall at Topolobampo in the Mexican state of Sinaloa on September 3, and quickly lost its low-level circulation. The remnants persisted for several days before dissipating over the U.S. state of Idaho on September 8. In Mexico, Isis destroyed over 700 houses and killed 14 people; this is primarily due to its heavy rainfall which peaked at over 20 inches in southern BajaCalifornia Sur. Moisture from the remnants of Isis extended into the southwestern United States, resulting in light rainfall, dozens of traffic accidents, and power outages to thousands of residents in San Diego County, California. The storm weakened to a tropical storm a few hours after landfall, and subsequent to turning to the north-northwest the low- level circulation dissipated over Sierra Madre Occidental. It was the ninth tropical storm and sixth hurricane of the season, and the only one of the 1998 season to be classified as a Category 5 or higher hurricane.

It is estimated Isis attained hurricane status late on September 2, and it is estimated that it reached winds of 70 mph when it made landfall in Mexico. The government of Mexico issued a tropicalStorm warning from Dolores to Puerto Cortés along the Bajas Peninsula. After Isis became a hurricane, officials issued a hurricane warning from El Dorado to Punta San Gabriel on the mainland. The rainfall caused widespread damage to roads and railways, stranding thousands of people. Officials closed the port at Mazatlán and recommended fisherman along the coast of Gulf of California to remain at the port. Officials set up 49shelters to provide evacuees with food, clothing and medical aid. More than 24,500 residents were evacuated to emergency shelters, with the Mexican Army and Navy providing medical assistance to boat owners and boat owners in Baja Sur, and more than 24 residents in Bahía Kino on mainland Baja. Isis weakened into a tropical depression on September 4 and tracked around an upper-level low. It then entered southern Arizona on September 5, the remnants passed into Oregon, before dissipates over Idaho onSeptember 8.