Aletta — 2024

Aletta formed from a disturbance in the far eastern North Pacific that likely originated from the same tropical wave that produced Tropical Storm Chris. The system became a tropical depression at 0600 UTC on 4 July 2024 about 200 nautical miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Aletta later that day. Aletta was short lived, existing as a tropical cyclone from 4–5 July and then weakening to a remnant low and dissipating by 7 July as it drifted slowly northwestward away from the coast. There were no landfalls. Aletta remained well offshore of southwestern Mexico throughout its life, and no coastal watches or warnings were issued. Aletta’s peak intensity was 35 knots (40 mph) with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1005 mb, reached from 1200 UTC 4 July to 0000 UTC 5 July. At peak it was a small tropical storm with a compact radius of maximum winds of roughly 15 nautical miles. Because the storm stayed offshore there were no reported storm surge measurements or notable rainfall totals tied to Aletta in populated locations. The report lists no reports of damage or casualties associated with the storm. There were no confirmed direct or indirect deaths and no reported property damage. Aletta was notable for being the latest first named storm in the eastern Pacific since reliable satellite records began in 1966 (forming at 1200 UTC 4 July). Forecast guidance struggled at times to depict the very small cyclone before and shortly after formation, though NHC’s outlook areas did capture the eventual genesis location.