| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Carlotta on July 12. | |
| Formed | July 12, 2006 |
| Dissipated | July 16, 2006 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 981 mbar (hPa; 28.97 inHg) |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | None |
| Areas affected | Mexico |
| Part of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Carlotta was a minimal hurricane that briefly affected southwestern Mexico with light rainfall in July 2006. The second hurricane and fourth tropical cyclone of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season, Carlotta developed on July 12 from a tropical wave off the southwest coast of Mexico. It quickly attained hurricane status, though nearby Hurricane Bud caused the hurricane to weaken. Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status before again reaching hurricane status, though on July 15 it began its final weakening trend due to cooler waters and wind shear. On July 17 it degenerated into a remnant low pressure area, and four days later the circulation dissipated.
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A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on June 30, 2006, and it moved across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea with little convection. On July 9, while crossing Central America into the eastern North Pacific Ocean, thunderstorm activity increased.[1] Late the next day a broad low pressure area developed about 290 mi (465 km) south of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca; around the same time, convection was diminishing, although forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted its potential for tropical cyclogenesis over the subsequent days while paralleling the Mexican coastline.[2] The thunderstorms increased around the low on July 11, and by 0000 UTC on July 12 it was sufficiently well-organized to be designated Tropical Depression Four-E; at the time, it was located about 290 mi (465 km) south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.[1]
Upon being classified as a tropical cyclone, the depression was moving quickly west-northwestward to the south of a ridge over northwestern Mexico. It was a large cyclone, and initially its outer rainbands moved across the coast of Mexico.[1] The depression had good outflow, and its primary inhibiting factor was its large size.[3] After an increase in convection over the center, the depression intensified into a tropical storm just six hours after forming; at this time, the NHC named the storm Carlotta.[1] With low wind shear and warm water temperatures, as well as the development of an inner core, fairly rapid intensification was expected.[4] By late on July 12, the storm developed banding features,[5] and early on July 13 Carlotta attained hurricane status about 430 mi (700 km) south of Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.[1]
As Hurricane Carlotta intensified, the system became more compact, and it reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h).[1] An eye formed in the center of the convection, and the hurricane was briefly forecast to attain major hurricane status, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.[6] However, Carlotta did not intensify further due to increased wind shear from Hurricane Bud to its west.[1] It began weakening on July 14, as its eye became poorly-defined and its convection decreased in coverage.[7] The northern portion of the circulation moved across an area of cooler waters, and Carlotta briefly weakened to tropical storm status late on July 14. However, a decrease in wind shear caused the convection to rebuild and for the eye to reform, allowing the storm to re-attain hurricane status early on July 15. The re-intensification was short-lived, as the center of the hurricane moved into the area of cooler waters; the eye disappeared, and Carlotta again weakened to tropical storm status.[1] Late on July 15, the circulation became separated from the convection,[8] and by the next day the circulation was largely devoid of any thunderstorms;[9] it weakened to tropical depression status at 1200 UTC. By July 17, after being unable to generate any convection, Carlotta degenerated into a remnant low. The circulation continued generally westward, dissipating on July 20 about 1500 mi (2400 km) east of the Hawaiian islands.[1]
When Carlotta was first forming, its outer rainbands brought light rainfall along the Pacific coast of Mexico, from the Gulf of Tehuantepec to around Manzanillo, Colima. Rainfall totals were less than 1 inch (25 mm), and there were no reports of tropical storm-force winds over land. No fatalities or damages were reported.[1]