Tropical Storm Julio
Aug 8/23/08 to 8/26/08
Max Category: Tropical Storm
Max Sustained Winds: Estimated at 50kts

TD11E originated from a tropical wave and disturbed air some 120 miles SW of Manzanillo Mexico on the morning of 8/23. Development of this system was impeded for more than 24hrs by strong high level winds. TD11E was upgraded to Tropical Storm Julio at 5PM on 8/23 about 240 miles SSE of Cabo San Lucas. TS Julio tracked NNW and moved along the SW coast of the Baja peninsula on 8/24 and made landfall somewhere near Todos Santos on the evening of 8/24. The storm then move northward along the forecast track and passed west of the city of La Paz, up through he central valley region of Baja Sur. TS Julio remained a Tropical Storm longer than originally anticipated as it moved out over the Sea of Cortez, but was downgraded to a tropical depression on the afternoon of 8/25. Julio was declared 'dissipated' on 8/26.

Tropical Storm Julio delivered rain and some moderate wind to cabo San Lucas during the day of 8/24 as it move almost due north across the Baja peninsula. julio came ashore just north of Todos Santos and move north about 20 miles west of La Paz late that evening. No significant damage was reported throughout the first portion of the storm's landfall. The most significant damage occured in Mulege, as a result of the flooding of the river.

Low-lying recent development along the river was subject to flooding when the Mulege river rose more than three meters, some report 4m above normal levels.

Here is a first hand report from Mulege.

The water has now receded, but it will take some time for the puebla of Mulege to recover.

Per telephone with Saul Davis of Saul's Tienda:

Water yesterday 10 a.m. reached the floor of the river-side upstream house at La Fortuna & the surrounding ground for maybe 30 meters north.
Hard rain washed a lot of dirt off local hillsides into the streets; otherwise no big deal other than power out.
High tide was reported to be ~noon, at plus 3.5 feet.

Flash flood hit hard in afternoon. River flooded in front of Saul"s till there was water in the road at entrance to La Fortuna. That would put crest level at about a meter below flood from Hurricane John.

One soldier died during rescue operations up Icehouse Road . Apparently he got swept into the current. The soldiers now garrisoned at the airport (since the armed heist of a Cessna (206 IIRC)) had their HumVee & were pulling residents to high ground.

Power is out; water is out probably due to no power. Phones are working in town at least, but only if you have an old Western Electric type phone or generator. Anyone w/a fridge or freezer- your stuff is going bad. I haven't raised anyone on the south side of the river, so phone may be out there for now (I get ring tones but no answers, and no recordings from phone co.), or maybe everybody scrambled, or everybody has a 110V phone.

Based on the reports, I surmise the following:
Jorge's Park- hammered, again. Good place for a trailer or motorhome that leaves during chubasco season.
Orchard Village- 7 feet pus or minus your location.
Oasis- 1-5 feet depending on location (me probably 4, I hope).

Jungle- I'm guessing now- 0-3 feet, hopefully less
Maribel's- probably minimal cleanup in homes, streets a mess La Fortuna- 0-8 feet depending.
Upstream from bridge-
High School- guessing 4-5 feet, probably killed the library again, and the computers.

Due to improvements to power lines after H.John, I expect power to be back up late today or tomorrow; that assumes the govt can mobilize.

After John there were surplus workers which had been moved to Baja Sur, so getting power back up was about 5 days (2 in town); this time the south side of river & Loma Azul should follow more quickly due to improvements. All depends on mobilization. Water will come back on/off/on/off till major leaks are repaired; hopefully there will be fewer of those this time.

There will be a swath of Mexican families in the arroyo upstream of the bridge that are flooded out. We have rich, fairly recent experience w/relief efforts, so:
bring clothing, all ages; leave it at the Mission & Padre will handle handouts. After H.John there was a good size pile of clothing donations left, but those were mostly rags that had been donated by Mexican families further south. All the gringo clothing donations found homes.

How you can Help

Kids will need new school supplies; backpack, 8.5x11 spiral notebook, pens, pencils.
Linens. Pillows. Soft goods should come wrapped well in plastic with a label as to contents as conditions will be muddy for a week, then dusty for, well, a long time. Mosquito repellent w/DEET, don't fool around w/the kid stuff; after H.Marty came the dengue fever, so please take that seriously. Sponges, brushes, cleaning supplies. Plastic snow shovels will be a great help for the first week if you are leaving today or tomorrow; after that flat nose & regular shovels; if you are thinking of upgrading tools, donate the old ones now, and thanks in advance.
Rubber deck shoes will also be good for a week or ten days.

Thanks for all the help I'm sure will come. I'm in Sacramento now, packing the trailer & pickup. Once more into the breach!!

Marty Adair
ADA VIS Global Ent, Inc.