Draft:Tropical Storm Pilar (2023)

Tropical Storm Pilar was an erratic and long-lived tropical storm that brought impact to Central America in October and November 2023. The nineteenth depression and sixteenth tropical storm of the quite active 2023 Pacific hurricane season, Pilar formed from the remnants of Atlantic Tropical Depression Twenty-One, which struck Nicaragua. Pilar formed off the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica before moving to the west and then east. It would move north for a little bit before a steering current sent it to the west. Shear stopped the storm from strengthening and it would go on to dissipate far away from the Baja California peninsula.

Pilar caused damage in Central America, with floods resulting in the deaths of three people in El Salvador, and one in Honduras. While Pilar was affecting Central America, another invest in the atlantic was as well. Damage from Pilar was estimated at $45 million USD.

Meteorological history
On October 25, a broad area of low pressure, partially related to the remnants of Tropical Depression Twenty-One from the Atlantic basin which had dissipated northwest of Bluefields, formed offshore Central America. On October 28, the low became better organized and developed a defined low-level circulation, resulting in the formation of Tropical Depression Nineteen‑E by 21:00 UTC. The system's low-level center gradually consolidated, and it strengthened into Tropical Storm Pilar at 03:00 UTC on October 30. Pilar proceeded to move slowly east-northeastward, before stalling just offshore of El Salvador on the evening of October 31, as its steering currents collapsed. The storm then drifted to the north, and its sustained winds intensified to 60 mph (95 km/h). On November 1, it made an anticipated turn to the west, out to sea. The system moved quickly west-southwestward for the next few days, weakening along the way, as a result of intruding dry air from the north and westerly wind shear. Pilar's cloud pattern degraded somewhat on November 5, due to increasing mid-level southwesterly shear. The storm also slowed down and turned west-northwestward in response to a mid-level trough extending southwest of the Baja California peninsula. Late that day, Pilar became bereft of organized convection, and degenerated into a 35 mph (55 km/h) post-tropical remnant low early on November 6.

Preparations and impact
The precursor to Tropical Storm Pilar, (Tropical Depression 21 from the Atlantic Basin) brought heavy rainfall to Nicaragua. Mudslides, flash floods, and urban floods occurred across Nicaragua. Around 50 people in Nicaragua were affected by the storm.

Tropical storm warnings were issued across the coast of Central America and Mexico, with a significant one being issued in Puerto Vallarta. The president of El Salvador issued a state of emergency as the storm approached.

Pilar brought major flooding to El Salvador. Flash flooding and heavy rainfall struck many areas of the country, resulting in the deaths of three people: a 24-year-old man who was swept away by a current in La Unión, a 57-year-old woman who was also pulled away into a ravine in La Unión and a 31-year-old man who was overtaken by storm surge while working in a reservoir in Nueva Granada, Usulután. At least 215 families were affected by the system in El Salvador, walls collapsed, and over a dozen homes collapsed. Another person was reported missing. Over 10 to 15 inches of rain fell from El Salvador to Costa Rica. Over 100 different classes in the country had to be shut down due to damage and impact from the system.

Honduras also suffered some impact from Pilar, with flooding and landslides resulting in the death of 1 person. Over 700 homes were effected, and 5 were destroyed. At the time, Honduras were also suffering from a cold front. In Guatemala, hundreds of people needed to be moved to shelters as they were in "high risk areas." In agricultural senses, lots of crops were washed away due to the storm. In Northern Costa Rica, many mudslides were reported along with floods.

Pilar affected areas that were hit by Hurricane Otis not long before the system formed. Over $45 million in damage was associated with Pilar.