Hurricane John
Hurricane John was a powerful, erratic, and devastating tropical cyclone that caused deadly flooding and record rainfall across southern Mexico for several days in September 2024. The eleventh named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2024 Pacific hurricane season, John originated from a low-pressure area offshore Southern Mexico. This low developed into Tropical Depression Ten‑E on the afternoon of September 22, strengthening into Tropical Storm John the following morning. Undergoing rapid intensification, John strengthened from a moderate tropical storm into a Category 3 hurricane on September 24. It was at that intensity that John made landfall in Marquelia, Guerrero, later that day. Once inland, John rapidly weakened, dissipating over Mexico later that day. However, the mid-level remnants of John moved back over the ocean, where favorable conditions enabled John to redevelop. On September 27, after again becoming a minimal hurricane, Tropical Storm John made its second landfall, this time near Tizupan, Michoacán. Hours later, it dissipated for a final time over the coastal mountains.
John resulted in strong winds, catastrophic flooding, and numerous mudslides across much of coastal southwestern Mexico. A total of of rain fell across parts of Guerrero, with similarly extreme rainfall in neighboring Oaxaca and Michoacán. More than 98,000 people lost power in Oaxaca. As of September 28, twenty-nine deaths have been reported in association with John, and the storm is estimated to have caused US$2.45 billion in damage to southern Mexico, making John the third costliest hurricane to strike the Pacific coast of Mexico in nominal terms.
Meteorological history
On September 21, an area of low pressure producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms formed off the coast of southern Mexico. The system became better organized the following day and attained a closed surface circulation, resulting in the formation of Tropical Depression TenE on the afternoon of September 22, about 175 mi south of Punta Maldonado, Guerrero. The system continued to develop that night, and strengthened into Tropical Storm John at 06:00 UTC the following morning. While moving slowly to the north-northeast on September 23, caught in the southwesterly flow associated with the monsoon trough near Central America, John initiated rapid intensification. It became a Category 1 hurricane at 17:45 UTC that same day, and then, just nine hours later, reached Category 3 major hurricane intensity with sustained winds of. It was at that intensity that John made landfall in Marquelia, Guerrero, about northwest of Punta Maldonado, at 03:20 UTC on September 24. John rapidly weakened inland, with its winds falling to tropical storm strength about 12 hours later. By 18:00 UTC that day, John dissipated over the rugged terrain of southern Mexico.An elongated trough developed in association with John's remnants as the cyclone dissipated. The trough produced a large area of shower and thunderstorm activity, and began showing signs of organization on September 25. Ship observations indicated significant pressure falls within the system, and by 15:00 UTC, John reformed into a tropical storm. John moved slowly to the north-northwest after it reformed, and within favorable environmental conditions for strengthening, the storm steadily re-intensified. Continuing its slow motion very close to the southwestern coast of Mexico, John developed a small, closed eye, and re-intensified to a minimal hurricane at 12:00 UTC on September 26. John continued to move very slowly near the coast, where its proximity to the rugged terrain of Mexico halted intensification; the cyclone weakened to a tropical storm at 3:00 UTC the following day. After hugging the coast for nearly 36 hours and continuing to weaken, John finally made landfall on southwestern Mexico for the second time at 16:00 UTC on September 27 with sustained winds of 60 mph. John's surface center dissipated shortly thereafter, and the United States-based National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory on the storm three hours later.
Preparations
Upon the formation of John as a tropical cyclone on the afternoon of September 22, a Tropical Storm Watch was issued from Punta Maldonado to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. At 09:00 UTC the following day, this was changed to a Tropical Storm Warning from Punta Maldonado to Huatulco, with a Tropical Storm Watch extending to Salina Cruz. A Hurricane Watch was declared within the Tropical Storm Warning area. The Hurricane Watch was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning a few hours later. A red emergency alert was issued for Guerrero and Oaxaca. Paqueteria Tres Guerras and other companies suspended operations in Acapulco. John threatened parts of Mexico still recovering from Hurricane Otis the previous year, which underwent a similar rapid intensification phase. Tourists in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, were expected to be evacuated by the Secretariat of Civil Protection. Businesses across the city were closed. The Puerto Escondido International Airport also closed for the duration of the storm. 4,476 schools were closed. When the storm redeveloped, a red emergency alert was issued for Michoacán and classes were suspended. The port of Lázaro Cárdenas was closed. In Colima, an orange emergency alert was issued and 15 shelters were opened. Officials warned of wind speeds up to 70-90 km/h, wave heights of 2-4 meters, and waterspouts. In the State of Mexico, a yellow emergency alert was issued. Residents were urged to remove trash from gutters and avoid crossing flooded roadways. In Veracruz, a blue alert was issued. Officials in Jalisco warned of rainfall totals up to 150-250 mm.Authorities in Oaxaca opened 110 temporary storm shelters, while 299 were opened in Guerrero. The Federal Electricity Commission deployed over 1,400 electricians and several cranes and emergency power plants to respond to power outages in affected regions. Schools were closed across Guerrero and Oaxaca.
Impact
According to Gallagher Re, economic losses totaled to US$2.45 billion. At least 29 people died in the storm: 23 in Guerrero, 5 in Oaxaca, and 1 in Michoacán. John dropped historic amounts of rain over Mexico, bringing 214% more water than Hurricane Pauline, which devastated southern Mexico in 1997. A maximum of of rain fell in Acapulco, Guerrero, five times the amount that Hurricane Otis brought the previous year. In Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, 782 mm of rain fell, a number not seen since Hurricane Manuel in 2013. Over of rain fell across parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca within the first few hours after John's landfall. Some local regions along John's path received 80% of their typical yearly rainfall from the storm. Torrential rains also fell across the neighboring states of Chiapas, Veracruz, Michoacán and Puebla. Areas along the southwestern Mexican coast experienced mudslides while tin roofs were blown off several houses. Overall, at least 395,000 households lost power during the storm.Guerrero
In Guerrero, numerous landslides damaged or destroyed roads, isolating many rural communities. Severe damage was reported in 40 municipalities.At least 143 roads suffered severe damage and 40 bridges collapsed. Numerous vehicles were crushed by rockslides. Severe agricultural impact was also reported, with 7,268 corn, plantain, and coconut farmers suffering losses. 260,000 hectares of corn were lost, affecting 60% of the harvest. Additionally, 10,000 hectares of mango were lost, affecting 60% of the harvest. Overall, a total of 41,101 homes in Guerrero were in need of significant reconstruction or rehabilitation due to the extensive damage wrought by John.In Acapulco, the Mexican federal government's National Civil Protection Coordination rescued 5,120 people from flooded areas. Extensive flooding occurred across 39 neighborhoods and 18 urban areas in Acapulco. Floodwaters rose to levels not seen since Hurricanes Manuel and Ingrid in 2013. 20 people in an apartment complex were forced to move to the rooftop of their buildings due to rising floodwaters. 40,000 homes were isolated due to flooding. More than 39,491 homes were flooded, leaving 127,844 people homeless. In the Diamante Zone, floodwaters reached an average of 1.5-2 meters in homes. At least 206 hotels, 569 schools, 105 restaurants, and numerous animal shelters were damaged as well. Numerous transportation lines in the city were disrupted. The Arena GNP Seguros was flooded. A drainpipe was damaged, causing wastewater to flood onto several streets. Storm surge caused garbage to pile up onto beaches. Four boats sunk due to high waves. A total of 120,000 people were left jobless as a result of the storm. Initially, it was estimated that rebuilding the port of Acapulco would cost more than Mex$50 billion. However, it was later determined that total losses in the city reached Mex$22 billion, with commercial losses estimated at Mex$5 billion. President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador reported that fifteen people were killed in Acapulco. A wall collapsed, killing a four-year-old girl and injuring a six-year-old boy. A house was swept away by floodwaters, killing a six-year-old boy and injuring his mother. A man was killed after being swept away by an overflowing river. An 88-year-old woman, a 45-year-old couple, and another elderly woman were killed after landslides caused their homes to collapse on them. A 52-year-old man was killed after falling down while cleaning his flooded home. Additionally, two others were reported missing after a wall collapse.
Outside of Acapulco, damage was reported in 28 municipalities, with a total of 27,000 homes being damaged, affecting 108,792 people. In Copala, near where the storm made its first landfall, heavy rain and wind gusts up to 220 km/h destroyed more than 100 restaurants, hotels, homes, and beach huts. In Costa Azul, a ten-meter sinkhole was reported. In Las Vigas, a sustained wind of 72 km/h and a wind gust of 127 km/h were recorded. In Chilpancingo, the Huacapa river overflowed, flooding the El Palmar and Renacimiento neighborhoods. There, 700 homes were damaged, with 250 out of them having their roofs blown off completely. 150 homes collapsed and 337 downed trees were reported. At least 60 people fled to a shelter. In the Cerrito Rico neighborhood, floodgates were opened, causing rivers to overflow, sweeping away two vehicles. Several communities were left without running water. A 68-year-old woman was injured after a tree fell on her house. In the Costa Chica region, the Atoyac River overflowed, flooding 300 homes. In Zihuatanejo, patients were evacuated after heavy rains caused the ceiling of a hospital to collapse. Two fishing boats sank due to high waves. In La Unión, gusty winds blew off the roofs of buildings and storm surge flooded several areas. In Tecpan de Galeana, a market and sports complex were flooded. Governor of Guerrero Evelyn Salgado reported two deaths caused by a landslide in the municipality of Tlacoachistlahuaca. Additionally, a 70-year-old woman was killed in Malinaltepec when a landslide struck her house and a man drowned after being swept away by an overflowing ravine. In the community of El Ciruelar, a man was killed while trying to leave his community in search for help. In Tecoanapa, a 28-year-old man was killed after the wall of his home collapsed on him. In the Tierra Caliente region, three men were killed after their truck was swept away by an overflowing river.