HURRICANE JIMENA 2009 (2)
Hurricane Jimena was one of the most significant Pacific tropical cyclones of the 2009 season — notable both for its rapid intensification over warm waters and for the impacts it left on the Baja California Peninsula and northwest Mexico. Wikipedia
📅 Formation & Meteorological History
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Origin: Jimena began as a tropical wave in the eastern Pacific on 28 August 2009. Wikipedia
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Rapid Intensification: It quickly strengthened into a hurricane and within days became a Category 4 storm — at times approaching Category 5 intensity with sustained winds near 250 km/h and powerful gusts. Emol+1
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Trajectory: The storm tracked northwestward, steered by prevailing atmospheric patterns, keeping most of its powerful core offshore before looping around toward the Baja California region. Wikipedia
📍 Peak: Category 4 hurricane
🌀 Travel Date: 28 Aug – 4 Sep 2009
🌡️ Peak Winds: ~135 knots / ~250 km/h
🧭 Landfall: Category 2 on Baja California Peninsula Wikipedia
🌊 Land Interaction & Coastal Impacts
When Jimena made landfall on 3 September 2009, it had weakened from its peak but remained a potent Category 2 hurricane, tying records for strong Pacific landfalls in the region. Wikipedia
Affected Areas
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Baja California Sur — hardest hit, with structural damage, power outages, and severe flooding. China Daily
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Sonora — experienced record rainfall, with some areas exceeding 20 inches (≈500 mm) and significant flooding. Wikipedia
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Northwestern Mexico — heavy rain, wind damage, and coastal impacts extended inland. cenapred.gob.mx
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Southwestern United States — remnants contributed to thunderstorms in Arizona and surrounding states. Wikipedia
Storm Effects
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Homelessness & Infrastructure: Thousands were left without homes; electrical and water systems were disrupted. China Daily
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Flooding & Rainfall: Intense precipitation caused flood damage and runoff issues across inland regions. meganoticias.mx
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Human Toll: Estimates vary slightly by source, but the storm resulted in multiple fatalities and economic losses across affected regions. Wikipedia
💸 Damage & Human Impact
While Pacific hurricanes don’t always make global headlines like their Atlantic counterparts, Jimena’s effects were severe for local communities:
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Economic Losses: Estimated in the tens to hundreds of millions of USD in direct damages — houses, utilities, and infrastructure. Wikipedia
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Displacement: Thousands of people were displaced or left homeless following the storm and subsequent flooding. China Daily
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Emergency Response: Relief efforts included government reconstruction funds and aid from humanitarian groups in the weeks after landfall. Wikipedia
🌍 Meteorological & Historical Significance
👉 Why Jimena Matters:
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Rapid Intensification: Jimena’s quick jump to a Category 4 storm confirmed the importance of monitoring warm Pacific waters — and how quickly storms can strengthen. Emol
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Landfall Strength: It stands among the most powerful Pacific hurricanes to strike Baja California, showing that even weakened systems can have major local impacts. Wikipedia
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Legacy: Communities affected by Jimena often cite changes in preparedness and local disaster planning in subsequent years. meganoticias.mx
📌 Lessons for Preparedness
✔ Monitoring evolving forecasts early in hurricane season is crucial — Jimena formed fast and intensified rapidly. Emol
✔ Evacuation planning and infrastructure reinforcement can reduce loss of life, even when a storm weakens before landfall. Wikipedia
✔ Public awareness and early warnings save lives — especially in coastal and flood-prone regions.
Hurricane Jimena (2009) remains a striking example of Pacific cyclone behavior — ferocious at peak strength, but unexpectedly impactful even after weakening. It underscores that the true measure of a hurricane’s impact isn’t just its category — but how communities prepare, respond, and recover.
OTHER SOURCES
Emergency workers built shelters for thousands of endangered families as a strengthening Hurricane Jimena roared toward Mexico's resort-studded Baja California peninsula Monday.
Jimena, a dangerous Category 4 storm, could rake southern Baja California by Tuesday evening, forecasters said.
At least 10,000 families will be evacuated from potential flood zones, said Francisco Cota, the local director of Civil Protection. He said 60 shelters would be set up.
"I think it's going to be a substantial hurricane by the time it approaches," said Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Delegates from around the world had already begun to arrive for a conference sponsored by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development on Tuesday and Wednesday at Cabo Los Cabos at the southern tip of the peninsula.
Nicholas Bray, the head of media for the Paris-based organization, said Monday there are no plans to postpone or cancel the meeting due to the hurricane Jimena.
Brenda Munoz, who lost her home to a 2001 hurricane, was taking no chances and stocking up on food this time.
"I remember when Hurricane Juliette hit with a lot of intensity. It flattened our home, lots of flooding, lots of disaster," Munoz said in Cabo San Lucas. "We're already prepared with food and everything so it won't catch us off guard."
But with the weather still mild on Sunday, Jim Patterson, a tourist from Big Bear Lake, California, could not muster much concern.
"Are you saying it would be a good idea to stock up on tequila?" he joked at a seaside restaurant. "No fear. I've been through tornados and earthquakes and everything else, but never a hurricane."
Farther south, Hurricane Jimena kicked up surf along Mexico's mainland western coast and generated strong winds that bent and uprooted trees in the resort town of Zihuatanejo.
Early Monday, Hurricane Jimena had maximum sustained winds near 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving northwest near 8 mph (13 kph).
It was centered about 370 miles (595 kilometers) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas.
Authorities in Cabo Corrientes were setting up shelters in case of heavier winds and rain, said Arturo Garcia, an official with Jalisco's Civil Protection agency.
The U.S. hurricane center issued a public advisory for residents in western Mexico and the southern part of the Baja peninsula to keep tabs on Hurricane Jimena.
Farther out in the Pacific, a weakening Tropical Storm Kevin had top winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was centered 895 miles (1,435 kilometers) west-southwest of the Baja peninsula's southern tip.
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