User:HurricaneSpin/Odile08

Tropical Storm Odile was a strong tropical storm that formed during the 2008 Pacific hurricane season. Its origins belong to a tropical wave that reached the western Caribbean Sea on October 4, where it merged with the southern end of a decaying frontal system. The northern sections of this disturbance moved across the Yucatán Peninsula, contributing to the formation of Tropical Storm Marco in the Gulf of Mexico. The southern end, however, emerged into the Pacific, gradually increasing in organization off the coast of El Salvador. A tropical depression formed on October 8, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Odile 18 hours later. The storm paralleled the south coast of Mexico, with the center located only several miles offshore. After peaking in intensity, increasing southeasterly vertical wind shear induced a trend of rapid weakening on the storm. Correspondingly, Odile was downgraded to a tropical depression early on 12 October, subsequently degenerating into a remnant low about 55 mi (85 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima. From thereon, the low proceeded slowly south-southwestward before dissipating on October 13.

Since Odile stayed at sea, its effects along coastlines were limited. The most notable damages were along the southern coast of Mexico, in the state of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Michoacán. The exact amount of damage, however, remains unknown, and no fatalities were reported as a result of the storm.

Meteorological history
A tropical wave emerged off the west coast of Africa on September 23, immediately becoming embedded within a broad area of convective moisture along the wave axis. Tracking generally westward, the wave merged with a separate area of low pressure over the central Atlantic on September 26. The resultant disturbance reached the western Caribbean Sea in early October, gradually merging with the southern end of a decaying frontal system. On October 3, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring this system, initially assessing a low chance of tropical cyclone formation within the subsequent 48 hours. The system gradually split, with the northernmost part moving across the Bay of Campeche, where it contributed to the formation of Tropical Storm Marco. Emerging into the eastern Pacific, the southern end immediately showed signs of organization, and impressive cloud patterns became notable. The system stalled just south of El Salvador throughout October 5, where it came under the influence of strong vertical wind shear. Therefore, its organization deteriorated as the surrounding convection warmed and diminished slightly. The remaining circulation began drifting east-northeast at less than 6 mph (9 km/h), and initially, convective re-deepening was impeded by a lack of tropical moisture. The next day, however, the system became absorbed by a neighboring tropical wave, and the broad resultant low re-curved to the northwest. In response to relaxing shear aloft, convection redeveloped around the newly formed center of circulation. It subsequently acquired a sufficiently organized structure as deep central convection persisted, and post-analysis found that a tropical depression formed at around 1200 UTC. Upon developing, the depression was designated as Sixteen-E about 120 mi (195 km) south-southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador, and operationally, advisories were initiated at 2100 UTC — 9 hours after post-analytic estimates of formation.

Despite an area with favorable conditions, lack of inner core organization made difficult for rapid deepening to occur, and initially, model guidance did not forecast any significant strengthening. Contrary to expectations, satellite imagery showed a gradual increase in organization later that evening: bands of convection deepened in the southern quadrant, indicating that the storm was steadily strengthening. Located just to the south of a large mid-level ridge over Mexico, the system was steered toward the west-northwest, proceeding within a favorable environment. Infrared and microwave imagery showed cloud patterns continued to become much better defined; convective banding wrapped around the core of the depression, and it is estimated to have attained tropical storm status at around 0600 UTC, October 9. Accordingly, the storm was assigned the name Odile, sustaining winds of up to 40 mph (65 km/h) about 330 mi (530 km) southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico.

Shortly after attaining tropical storm status, Odile began to develop a small area of central dense overcast, and upper-level cirrus outflow became well-defined within the western semicircle of the storm. Convective banding organized to the south and southwest of the circulation, leading Dvorak T-numbers to estimate an intensity of at least 45 kn. Based on this estimate, the NHC noted a high chance of further intensification into a minimal hurricane. Instead, Odile maintained its intensity, as upper-level outflow of the circulation was reduced to the northeast, restricting further strengthening. Overnight microwave imagery unveils that the center was partly exposed to the northeast of the main convection. Analysis further indicated that Odile was under about 15 kn of east-northeasterly vertical wind shear. Southwest of the system, a large burst of convection took place throughout the morning of October 10, and around 0600 UTC, Odile managed to gain some intensity, reaching its peak intensity and sustaining winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).

Odile closely paralleled the Mexican coastline. The intensification did not last long, in fact, the convection associated with Odile diminished in the afternoon and its rainbands became rather distorted. Another cluster of convection sprung up that evening, this time with cloud tops colder than -80 °C. The circulation center was well embedded within the convection. As a consequence of the slightly improved organization, Odile had a stronger interaction with the easterlies aloft, therefore increasing forward movement speed. Later that day, an reconnaissance aircraft passed through Odile and observed a rather weak and disorganized tropical cyclone, resulting forecasts to be changed. In that same forecast discussion, hurricane forecaster Lixion Avila humorously said, "Odile...The tropical cyclone...has really fooled me as Odile...the evil character in the ballet Swan Lake...fooled the prince." Early on October 12, Odile made its closest approach to coastline of Mexico, only about 50 mi (80 km) offshore of Guerrero, Mexico. Odile then entered a weakening trend caused by increasing southeasterly vertical wind shear. Futhermore, around 0600 UTC, NHC confirmed that Odile weakened into a tropical depression. The last advisory regarding Odile was issued later that day stating that it has subsequently decayed into a remnant low-pressure area, a swirl of low-level clouds. The low moved slowly south-southwestward before dissipating on October 13.

Preparations and impact
Throughout Odile's existence, the National Weather Service of Mexico declared several tropical storm watches and warnings for the Pacific coast of Mexico spanning from Jalisco to Oaxaca. They were extended and discontinued as Odile progressed westward. On October 11 at around 2 AM PDT, a hurricane watch was declared for the Pacific coast of Mexico from Tecpán de Galeana to Punta San Telmo. Six hours later, the hurricane warning was adjusted and in effect for the coast from Zihuatanejo to Manzanillo. They were all discontinued later that day as the chance of Odile becoming a hurricane diminished.

On October 8, blue alerts were declared for 118 municipalities in Chiapas following the minimal threat of tropical storm-force impact. The civil defense system in the state of Chiapas warned that the storm could leave up to 150 mm of rainfall. Shippings were closed in the Port of Chiapas, leaving over 3,000 boats stranded ashore on October 9. Flooding in Acapulco forced officials to close schools on October 10. Meanwhile, the state government reported that 232 polices were ready to provide assistance to citizens in advance of Odile. Civil defense officials in the state of Guerrero ordered about 10 thousand people to evacuate their homes. On October 11, a yellow alert were declared for the state of Michoacán. In the state of Michoacán, the civil defense committee also announced that the shelters were opened for schools in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas and the towns of Playa Azul and Guacamayas. Ports in Lázaro Cárdenas were also closed later that day.

In Acapulco, torrential rainfall affected more than 100 families, collapsing walls and covering road with floodwater up to 70 cm. Some homes were under as much as 4 m of water. The flooding is also responsible for causing strong current that had swept away parked vehicles along with debris. Odile also managed caused damage to the plumbing and sewage supplies of Acapulco, resulting no water access for about fifty communities in suburban areas of Acapulco. In addition, Odile had caused two houses collapsing and 16 trees down. In Michoacán, after half an hour of strong winds caused by Odile, at least 30 trees fell and 5 power poles collapsed, leaving a large portion of the city left without electricity for about 10 minutes.