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Tropical Storm Vicente was an unusually small tropical cyclone that made landfall as a tropical depression in the Mexican state of Michoacán on October 23, 2018, causing deadly mudslides. The twenty-first named storm of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season, Vicente originated from a trough of low pressure that formed within a large area of disturbed weather near Central America early on October 19. Around midday, the disturbance organized into a tropical depression, which prompted the National Hurricane Center to begin issuing advisories. Later in day, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was assigned the name Vicente. Despite having only been a weak tropical storm, Vicente developed an intermittent eye-like feature. Unfavorable conditions prevented strengthening until late on October 20. At that time, Vicente peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mbar (29.59 inHg). A day later, Vicente began to weaken due increasing wind shear before slightly restrengthening early on October 22. On October 23, Vicente weakened into a tropical depression. Later in the day, Vicente degenerated into a remnant low after making landfall in southwestern Mexico, before dissipating soon afterward.

Vicente caused deadly flooding and mudslides that killed 16 individuals in Mexico.

Meteorological history
Tropical Storm Vicente's origins can be traced back to a low-level vortex affiliated with the eastern Pacific monsoon trough and a tropical wave. The wave departed from Africa's western coast on October 6 and traveled westward across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving at the Lesser Antilles around October 14. Although convection initially flared along the northern side of the wave, it gradually decreased until the wave was completely devoid of convection. The wave came into contact with Central America on October 16; deep convection re-ignited along the monsoon trough and wave south of Panama a day later. Bursts of convection occurred to the south of Nicaragua and El Salvador as the wave proceeded westward into the Eastern Pacific. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first mentioned the system had the potential for tropical development early on October 19. The system was part of a broader disturbance which stretched from Central America to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Over the next several hours the system rapidly organized, becoming a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC, while located about 90 mi (150 km) west-southwest of Puerto San Jose, Guatemala.

The nascent depression was located in an environment of low wind shear and warm 28–29 C sea surface temperatures, both conducive for further intensification. The structure of the small storm continued to improve, with satellite and microwave imagery showing an increase in banding features around the center. The depression was upgraded into Tropical Storm Vicente around 18:00 UTC. Throughout the majority of the day, October 19, the system was less than 115 mi (185 km) off the coast of Guatemala while it inched towards the northwest. Early on October 20, increasing northwesterly wind shear disrupted Vicente, causing the degradation of its central dense overcast. At the same time, its low-level center had accelerated towards the northwest and was almost entirely exposed. A deep-layer ridge located over the Gulf of Mexico and central Mexico, as well as a Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind, caused Vicente's track to shift to the west during the overnight. The tiny tropical cyclone's structure improved over the next several hours, with the storm displaying a sporadic eye feature surrounded by medium to weak convection. Vicente peaked at 18:00 UTC on October 20 with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mbar. At that time, the storm was located less than 115 mi (185 km) off the coast of Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico. Vicente maintained its peak intensity for approximately 18 hours as it began traveling towards the west-southwest.

Dry air began to entrain into the mid-levels of the system on October 21, causing convection to weaken and the low-level center to become uncovered once more. The storm turned to the west-northwest early on October 22 as it rounded the southwestern edge of the aforementioned ridge. The structure of Vicente markedly improved while it experienced a brief reprieve from the onslaught of the dry air; a banding feature with cold cloud tops of -80 C developed and wrapped around a majority of the storm. Later in the day, Vicente began to be affected by the outflow of Hurricane Willa, which was located to the northwest. This outflow imparted northeasterly shear upon Vicente, causing rapid degradation of the system's structure. Banding features decreased significantly and only limited convection remained, displaced to the south and east of Vicente's center. Vicente weakened into a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on October 23 and made landfall near Playa Azul, Michoacán at 13:30 UTC. After moving ashore, Vicente quickly lost its convection and dissipated by 18:00 UTC.

Impact
Despite Vicente's close proximity to land, no tropical storm watches or warnings were issued for Guatemala and Mexico. An overall green alert, signifying a low level of danger, was issued for southwestern coast of Mexico.

Vicente caused torrential rainfall in multiple states. Peak rainfall of at least 300 mm occurred in the state of Oaxaca. Rainfall totals of 157.7 mm and 134.8 mm were recorded in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. In the same state, 117.5 mm of rain fell in San Jeronimo.

Fringe effects from the storm triggered flooding in Veracruz, leaving three people dead. Agricultural loss in Colima were about MX$136 million (US$7.05 million).

Around the same time, Vicente and Willa together forced the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship to divert to San Diego, California.

Michoacán
Vicente made landfall near Playa Azul, Michoacán at 13:30 UTC (08:30 CDT) on October 23. Schools along the coast of Michoacán were canceled to safeguard everyone from the effects of Vicente and Hurricane Willa. Rainfall from the storm flooded 27 neighborhoods in the city of Morelia. Residents were evacuated from the Jacarandas neighborhood by state officials and police officers after a gasoline leak occurred. Five schools were closed in the city due to flooding and another for mud removal and disinfection work. The Rio Grande river overflowed and drainage systems were completely filled throughout the Morelia municipality. Ventura Puente, Carlos Salazar, Jacarandas, Los Manantiales, and Industrial experienced flooding up to 1 m deep, which left hundreds of homes inundated. The heavy rainfall also caused the ground to give way near Atapaneo, resulting in a freight train derailment that left two workers injured. Plan DN-III-E, a disaster relief and rescue plan, was activated in the municipality; 500 individuals from the Police Training Institute were dispatched to help those affected by the flooding.

Oaxaca
The system brought heavy rainfall to the region, particularly in Oaxaca, that caused widespread flooding and mudslides. Multiple rivers in the state overtopped their banks and inundated nearby communities. A landslide in Santiago Choapam destroyed three homes. A storm drainage ditch that empties into the Chahué Bay overflowed, flooding at least 80 homes and businesses. National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples facilities were activated to help 30 people who were affected. The ports of Puerto Ángel, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco were closed. Emergency declarations were issued for 167 municipalities, 21 of which were isolated by flood waters. At least 13 people died throughout the state, 6 of whom died in a landslide in San Pedro Ocotepec. Four other persons traveling from San Juan Metaltepec disappeared during a landslide. The Mexican Army and Navy alongside State Police deployed 10,000 personnel to assist in recovery efforts. Twenty-one communities were left without no outside communication as a result of severe floods. One family went missing after trying to leave one of the communities. In the Santa Cruz de Tuxtepec neighborhood, affected individuals were removing mud from their homes after river flooding decreased. A disaster declaration was issued for 71 Oaxacan municipalities affected by Vicente; these areas would have access to national disaster relief funds.

Elsewhere
A total of ten landslides occurred in the state of Hidalgo as a result of heavy rainfall from Vicente and the nearby Hurricane Willa. In the municipalities of Huasteca and Sierra, highway accesses were blocked by boulders and tree limbs. Two people were hospitalized due to a landslide in Zacualtipán. Seven people were evacuated after a house was buried in Calnali. Roads in Huehuetla and Tenango were impassable due to landslides. Landslides affected he Tlanchinol-Hueyapa state highway in Tepehuacán, the Pachuca-Huejutla highway in the Mineral del Chico municipality, and on the Mexico-Tampico federal highway.

Due to the unsettled weather produced by Vicente and the nearby Hurricane Willa, numerous oil tankers were unable to unload fuel at ports in Manzanillo and Tuxpan. Combined with the closure of a major pipeline that transports petroleum to Guadalajara, this caused a fuel shortage in Jalisco, with some 500 gas stations being affected. Heavy rainfall from Vicente and Hurricane Willa caused a total of 24 landslides on highways in Jalisco, with about half occurring on El Tuito-Melaque-Cabo Corrientes section of Mexican Federal Highway 200.