Earl Dissipates Over the Mountains of Mexico, but Could Remain A Flash Flood Threat For Southern Mexico; Earl Reborn in the Pacific?

August 6,2016
Earl was the first hurricane to landfall in Belize, or anywhere in the western Caribbean Sea west of Jamaica, since Ernesto almost exactly four years ago (Aug. 7, 2012).
Earl crossed the Yucatan peninsula dropping heavy rainfall and that system, although no longer tropical, will bring more heavy rain to parts of Mexico over the next couple of days. There is a high chance that Earl's remains could become part of a new tropical cyclone in the Pacific this weekend or early next week.
(MORE: How often do storms cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific?)

Forecast: Remnants of Earl Spread Heavy Rain Threat West

Heavy rain, flooding and landslides will continue to be threats over higher elevations of southern Mexico. Additional rainfall totals of 6-12 inches (locally higher) are possible along the path of Earl's remnants in parts of southern Mexico, particularly high rainfall totals in southwestern Mexico. Dangerous flash flooding and mudslides are possible through the weekend in these areas.
(MORE: Tropical Storms and Hurricane in Mexico and Central America Have a Tragic History)

Forecast Rainfall Associated with Earl

Earl's History

As often the case, Earl's parent tropical wave could be traced back thousands of miles to a tropical wave coming off Africa the previous week.

This system was already impactful prior to being named Earl. Six people were killed in the Dominican Republic Sunday into Monday as this system passed near the island.
(MORE: 6 Killed in Dominican Republic)
Earl was named late on August 2 after a Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance mission found that an area of low pressure had formed and that it was closed.
Low wind shear, very warm water temperatures, and a lack of dry air allowed Earl to gradually organize and intensify.
(MORE: Why Western Caribbean Sea Had Been Hurricane-Free Since 2013)
Earl became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday, August 3, when NOAA Hurricane Hunters found winds of 75 mph. Earl was just off the coast of Honduras at the time.

Hurricane Earl's landfall statistics early Thursday morning.

Earl made landfall on August 4th near Belize City as a Category 1 hurricane with estimated maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. The main concern across the Yucatan peninsula was for heavy rainfall, but gusty winds did cause problems to.
(MORE: Belize Lashed By Strong Winds, Rain)
Winds gusted to 58 mph for several hours overnight at Phillip Goldston International Airport, west of Belize City, as the eye of Earl passed just to the south of that location around 2 a.m. EDT.

Surge flooding several feet deep was seen in Belize City, as recorded by hurricane storm chaser Josh Morgerman.

Earl entered the Bay of Campeche on the fifth after crossing through Belize, northern Guatemala and southern Mexico.
A vivacious low-level center stayed intact across the Yucatan peninsula, and thunderstorms regrew around the circulation. Earl briefly restrengthened to 60 mph before landfall in eastern Mexico south of Veracruz.
Earl weakened to a tropical depression early Saturday morning, after moving back over land and it then dissipated over the mountains late Saturday morning.
Earl dissipated over the mountains of Mexico after weakening to a tropical depression on August 6. Much of its moisture crossed mainland Mexico and arrived in the eastern Pacific.
MORE: Hurricane Earl (PHOTOS)