Thursday, July 8, 2010

Tropical Depression Two (2010)

Storm Active: July 7-8
The tropical wave that eventually became Two formed over northeast South America within the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). It slowly moved northwestward and as it moved into the western Caribbean, scattered thunderstorm activity began to be associated with it. However, this activity remained disorganized, and the system tracked over the Yucatan Peninsula on July 6. Although the system lost a lot of cloud cover over land, a low pressure center actually developed during this time, allowing the system to be more organized as it emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on July 7. However, the low pressure became elongated over the next few hours, and did not assume the perfect circular shape reminiscent of a healthy circulation. Nevertheless, convection continued to organize, and late that night the system was declared Tropical Depression Two with 35 mph winds and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb.

As had been the trend for a few days, the system lost much of its convection overnight, as it moved towards the Texas-Mexico border at 12 mph, but the circulation remained intact, and even strengthened a little. However, the system did not have enough time to reach tropical storm strength and made landfall in northern Mexico at 11:15 a.m. EST on July 8. The system quickly dissipated over land that evening. Overall, the main effect of Two was flooding, as it hit in an area which had already suffered from Hurricane Alex a few days eariler.



Two at landfall.



Track of Two.

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