Chris — 2024

A tropical cyclone formed from a tropical wave that crossed the Atlantic in late June. A broad low developed over the northwestern Caribbean and moved over the Yucatán Peninsula before emerging into the Bay of Campeche. The system became a tropical depression about 1800 UTC 30 June 2024 roughly 55 nautical miles northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Chris by 0000 UTC 1 July. Chris moved generally westward across the Bay of Campeche and made landfall on the coast of Veracruz early on 1 July, then weakened quickly over Mexico’s mountains and dissipated by 1200 UTC 1 July. Chris made one landfall around 0300 UTC 1 July in the Alto Lucero municipality of Veracruz, between the cities of Veracruz and Tuxpan. At landfall the storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at 40 kt (about 46 mph) and the minimum central pressure about 1005 mb. The circulation collapsed over the mountainous terrain and the system dissipated later that morning. The storm’s peak intensity at landfall was 40 kt (about 46 mph) with a minimum pressure of 1005 mb, corresponding to a minimal tropical storm. No sustained tropical-storm-force winds were recorded at coastal observing sites in the landfall area, though a gust to 35 kt was measured at Perote, Veracruz (elev. 7,941 ft). Heavy rain was the main hazard. Parts of eastern and central Mexico received widespread totals over 5 inches (125 mm). The highest reported amounts included 14.21 inches (361 mm) at Acatlán, Veracruz; 12.52 inches (318.1 mm) at Ballesmi, San Luis Potosí; and 12.28 inches (312 mm) at Naolinco, Veracruz. Flooding and mudslides occurred across Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Puebla, Hidalgo, Chiapas, and Morelos. Chris directly caused five confirmed deaths in Mexico: four police officers from Tepetlán, Veracruz, who were swept away by the flooded Río Seco, and one man killed when a mud-and-rock slide buried his house in Tlanchinol, Hidalgo. One additional indirect death was reported from an electrocution in southern Tampico. Significant impacts included landslides, flooded rivers, damage to about 2,000 homes in Huilopan, Veracruz, temporary shelters for evacuees, and thousands of people affected or evacuated in Hidalgo and nearby areas. Forecasts had noted the tropical wave several days in advance but confidence in formation was low until about two days before genesis; the official forecast at 12 h was close to average for track and intensity given the storm’s short life. The storm was small and formed in a data-sparse area, which limited observations of tropical-storm-force winds at the coast.