Hurricane Jimena

Pre-Landfall 1 | Summary
Posting Date: August 31, 2009, 7:00:00 AM

Hurricane Jimena has quickly become a powerful storm. It intensified overnight—reaching Category 4 status—and forecasters are expecting the storm to make landfall on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in the next two days. As of 11:00 a.m. EDT, August 31, Jimena was located about 355 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. Maximum sustained winds are 145 mph, with higher gusts. The storm is moving northwest at 8 mph. Although the storm is well off the coast, high terrain areas have reported mudslides, landslides, and heavy rain and several trees have been uprooted in southwestern Mexico. Flooding is expected in low-lying parts of southern Baja within the next 24 hours. A hurricane watch is in place for the southern Baja California peninsula coast from Bahia Magdalena to San Evaristo. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Jimena is expected to maintain its northwestward path, bringing its eye south of Magdalena Bay by Tuesday evening. A slight increase in forward speed and a turn toward the north-northwest is expected over the next few days. While the storm moves northward, it will reach over cooler water, which is not favorable for maintaining its intensity. However, the NHC currently expects Jimena to maintain strength and make landfall as a major (category 3 and above) hurricane. Most of the exposures—including the bulk of the major tourist hotels—are located in Cabo San Lucas. This is the largest territory in Baja California Sur, with the population estimated at about 60,000. AIR estimates that the commercial replacement value for the territory of Los Cabos is a little more than two billion dollars. Insured commercial properties near Cabo San Lucas are typically constructed of confined masonry or reinforced concrete. At sustained wind speeds greater than 110 mph, hotels and other tourist structures may suffer damage to their wall and roof cladding and business interruption losses may be significant. Because of the nature of the exposures in this location, the final impact of the storm will depend on the track. Jimena is the fifth named hurricane of the 2009 eastern Pacific season. The storm is following a similar path to Hurricane Juliette which caused 7 deaths and significant damage when it hit Baja California in 2001. The AIR tropical cyclone team is monitoring the progress of Jimena and will provide additional information as warranted.

Pre-Landfall 1 | Downloads
Posting Date: August 31, 2009, 7:00:00 AM