Northeastern Mexico Hurricane Alex (2010)

1 northeastern mexico

1.1 tamaulipas
1.2 nuevo león
1.3 coahuila

northeastern mexico

alex shortly before moving ashore

the storm s significant effect in region excessive rainfall, reported throughout region. in tamaulipas, between 3.829 12.421 in (97.25 315.5 mm) of precipitation reported @ weather stations statewide. in nuevo león, average of 9.5 in (242 mm) of rain reported statewide july 1. pluviometer @ estanzuela reported total of 35 in (890 mm) of rainfall recorded; in arroyo seco, in san pedro garza garcía, total of 23.1 in (588 mm) of precipitation recorded between june 29 , 6 a.m. on july 1. other rainfall stations in monterrey recorded between 14.163 in (359.75 mm) , 24.4 in (619 mm) of rain, while santa catarina recorded 23.297 in (591.75 mm) of precipitation. comisión nacional del agua (cna) noted storm rainfall totals exceed totals produced hurricane gilbert in 1988, produced 11 in (280 mm) of rain in city.

the historic rainfall caused several dams fill throughout northeast mexico. in nuevo león, due heavy rainfall, cna began water discharges of 25,200 cubic feet per second (713 m/s) la boca dam in santiago, 58,200 cu ft/s (1,648 m/s) cerro prieto in linares, , 109,000 cu ft/s (3,080 m/s) cuchillo dam in china; dams @ 98%, 114%, , 124% of operating maximum capacity, respectively. cuchillo dam saw water inflows of 145,400 cu ft/s (4,118 m/s). water releases these dams raised state of alert in tamaulipas, slated receive discharged water. in coahuila, rainfall caused la fragua dam release 35,000 cu ft/s (1,000 m/s) of water rio grande, , amistad dam reach 119% of normal operating capacity. in case of latter dam, excess storage in amistad lake sparked fears of flooding in downstream municipalities, although possibility of overtopping of dam discarded mexican section of international boundary , water commission. however, contingency plans put in place prepare crest of sabinas river, tributary of rio grande, , subsequent crest on rio grande itself, expected carry @ least 140,000 cu ft/s (4,000 m/s) due additional inflows other tributaries. @ 1 point, rio grande clocked @ 195,000 cu ft/s (5,530 m/s) due many flooded tributaries. river s rise forced evacuation of 40 families in piedras negras, , required closure of gateway americas international bridge , colombia–solidarity international bridge between nuevo laredo, tamaulipas , laredo, texas on july 8. bridges expected closed until @ least july 10. rise of escondido river forced evacuation of 1,000 families in villa de fuente, river rose carry 23,000 cu ft/s (650 m/s) through town.

storm total rainfall alex across northern mexico , western u.s. gulf coast

the rainfall caused venustiano carranza dam in coahuila fill completely; large water pressure in dam forced dam s gates shut, , cranes employed open them. rest of gates unable opened due lack of electrical power, sparking fears of potential dam overtopping or rupture. municipality of anáhuac in nuevo león evacuated after reports on july 6 dam had overtopped; anáhuac s municipal president stated flood cause total destruction of city. on july 7, water releases dam increased 120,000 cu ft/s (3,300 m/s), town reported 9.8 ft (3 m) underwater, more discharge expected. personnel mexican army , city s prison population evacuated anáhuac same day. in san luis potosí, rainfall alex beneficial, caused increases in dam water levels of 20% in dry areas.

tamaulipas

tropical storm alex moves ashore on july 1

along coast, 13 ft (4 m) waves reported when storm came ashore. following hurricane s landfall in tamaulipas, 25-year-old man rescued storm drain. 60,000 people in san fernando lost power, did of ciudad victoria, capital of state. throughout state, 256,000 people left without electricity. heavy winds , rainfall knocked down billboards , trees in capital, no injuries reported in city. storm dropped 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall in matamoros, flooding 120 colonias, , leaving 6 of 120 underwater. 400 neighborhoods of matamoros, comprising 80% of city, flooded. areas of city under 1 ft (0.30 m) of water, forcing 4,000 people shelters. in reynosa, 80 colonias flooded, , 15 trees uprooted; in río bravo, 7 neighborhoods flooded. in nuevo laredo, 3 young persons rescued flooded arroyo. san fernando river breached banks, flooding communities in san fernando , méndez. overflow of rio grande following water discharges nuevo león isolated 2 communities in miguel alemán. 1 death reported in state on july 7 when man died while trying cross flooded river.

throughout state, storm , resultant floods damaged @ least 6,000 homes, 202 schools, , 500 businesses. additionally, 28 roadways , bridges damaged, , left on 193,000 power consumers lost electric service. property damage placed @ $1.084 billion (2010 mxn; 83.8 million usd) in 19 municipalities of state declared federal disaster areas.

nuevo león

santa catarina river flooding through monterrey, nuevo león

in nuevo león, fifteen people confirmed have died: 1 bricklayer died after housing unit under construction collapsed on top of him; 2 men , woman died after vehicle rolled on , crashed semi-trailer truck due intense rainfall; 25-year-old swept away swift currents , pinned against fence; elderly man died after wall toppled on him, woman died after large boulder rock slide fell on home, , young man fell onto arroyo topo chico. 8 more bodies found after floodwaters began receding, although 1 believed have been washed away cemetery. twenty people in nuevo león reported missing.

according comisión federal de electricidad, 4,000 customers lost electric power in monterrey metropolitan area, did 61,000 people statewide. 18 wells lost power, leaving 110,000 without water service in municipalities of santa catarina , garcía. heavy flooding occurred along santa catarina river in monterrey, dry river bed flows rio grande, causing reach record flow of 88,000 cu ft/s (2,500 m/s). flooded stream washed away multiple parked vehicles, popular flea market, , sport facilities built within riverside greenway. santa catarina river destroyed 45 kilometres (28 mi) of monterrey s main arterial streets. multiple washouts caused closure of divided highway between monterrey , saltillo, coahuila. in san nicolás de los garza, arroyo topo chico exceeded banks, forcing multiple street closures. explosion , fire occurred on bridge in guadalupe municipality when transformer fell on old gas pipe. no injuries reported due fire. in linares, rainfall alex s remnants caused wing of municipal townhouse, built in 1896, collapse. building listed protected historic building. bridge on pilón river collapsed in montemorelos, rupturing 24-inch oil pipeline in process. however, valves on both ends of pipeline section closed, minimizing leak on river, , leak not expected adversely impact drinking water supplies in el cuchillo dam. hurricane alex affected infrastructure of 1,077 schools in state, 60 of severely damaged , 552 held intermediate damage. nationwide disruption in internet connection , cell phone services caused damage optical fibers, backbone nodes , telephonic central stations in monterrey. additionally, telefónica reported damage network in monterrey , saltillo, causing intermittent unavailability of telecommunication services. preliminary estimates of damage in state rose $10 billion (2010 mxn; $762 million usd); final damage estimates released on august 5 totaled $16.9 billion (2010 mxn; 1.35 billion usd) statewide.

coahuila

in coahuila, rainfall alex s remnants caused small dam in ejido in castaños overtop, forcing evacuation of 50 people in municipality s seat. ensuing flood rose 3.3 ft (1 m) , damaged 15 homes. coal-producing region of state left isolated after Álamos river broke banks. hundreds of residents in nueva rosita , sabinas evacuated; in latter case, sabinas river flooded become 980 ft (300 m) in width, causing 400–500 homes go underwater. bridges on mexican federal highway 57 covered in water. thousands of citizens in ciudad acuña evacuated when arroyo las vacas flooded after 40 in (1,000 mm) of rain fell on nearby mountain ranges. flood damaged 1,000 homes, damaging urban infrastructure, power, water , telecommunication services; 500 people sought refuge in shelters. loss of power caused 40 maquiladoras suspend activities, stopping 16,000 workers. rainfall caused damage in 15 municipalities of coahuila, affecting 10,000 people, , causing @ least $1 billion (2010 mxn; $76 million usd) in damage in state.