page_title: Tropical Storm Arlene (2011)
section_title: La Huasteca Region
hierarchical_section_title: Tropical Storm Arlene (2011) / Impact / Mexico / La Huasteca Region
caption_attribution_description: Tormenta tropical Arlene. Península Yucatan, Estado de Quintana Roo, Mexico. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Lens: Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZE Focal Length: 100 mm Exposure: 1.3 sec at f/22 ISO: 50
context_page_description: Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, brought blustery conditions to much of eastern Mexico in late June to early July 2011. Arlene originated from an Atlantic tropical wave, which crossed the Yucatán Peninsula before emerging over warm waters in the Bay of Campeche. Despite moderate wind shear, the disturbance strengthened and developed a surface circulation, prompting the National Hurricane Center to declare it a tropical storm on June 28. Arlene remained vigorous for most of its existence; the storm peaked in intensity with winds of 65 mph on June 30, just before making landfall on the coast of Veracruz. Crossing the mountains of eastern Mexico, Arlene weakened to a depression before dissipating early on July 1.
  The precursor disturbance to Arlene brought significant rainfall to parts of Central America, killing three people and triggering widespread flooding and landslides. Throughout Mexico, prolonged rains from Arlene and subsequent flooding affected hundreds of homes and several roads, causing many residents to seek shelter. At the height of the storm, power was lost to 285,000 homes.
context_section_description: Arlene brought strong thunderstorms and showers to much of eastern Mexico, with gale-force winds along adjacent coastlines. Upon landfall in Veracruz, Arlene produced wind speeds to 60 mph (100 km/h) and up to 9.11 in (231.5 mm) of rainfall. The winds and rain uprooted trees and caused extensive flooding, prompting at least 1,786 people throughout the state to evacuate their homes. A total of 67 landslides took place in the state; one such landslide collapsed two houses in Tlalnelhuayocan, killing one inhabitant and injuring 10 others. Mudslides and rockfall also uprooted trees and damaged eight cars in Banerilla, though no injuries were linked to the incident. In Tihuatlán, a rescue worker was killed during the passage of the storm. Overall, Arlene affected 3,358 residences across 50 municipalities in Veracruz; about 2,000 homes were damaged in El Higo. Continued downpours brought on the overflow of 28 rivers, as well as the isolation of 116 communities statewide. Other effects in Veracruz included considerable infrastructural failure, localized land subsidence, and three damaged schools in Coacoatzintla. The costs of road reconstructions totaled Mex$126 million (US$10.2 million). In response to the devastation, the government declared a state of emergency for 65 percent of the state; by July 5, 62 municipalities remained under alert.
  Heavy rains fell over Taumalipas, with 348.8 mm measured along the Tamesí River. Widespread flooding forced some 400 families to evacuate throughout the state; 70 trapped families in El Mante had to be rescued from their flooded homes. At the height of the storm, high-voltage electrocutions due to downed power lines caused two deaths in the municipalities of Tampico and Reynosa while critically injuring two workers in Matamoros. By July 4, two more deaths were reported in the state, though their causes remain unspecified. Approximately 40,000 residents suffered property damage to their homes. A state of emergency was declared in the municipalities of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, Altamira, and González in light of the damage. Broken drains and sewers in the storm's wake increased the risk of cholera through contaminated water. Damage estimates in Tamaulipas exceeded Mex$67 million (US$5.8 million). In neighboring San Luis Potosí, Arlene dropped 12.18 in (309.4 mm) of rain and claimed the lives of five people, two due to drownings. Landslides left dozens of communities isolated, and more than 600 residents fled from flooded areas, particularly in Ciudad Valles, Tamazunchale, El Naranjo, and Xilitla.
  Farther inland, in Hidalgo, about 100 families required evacuation across the municipalities of Tlanchinol and Orizatlán due to heavy rain, with 7.09 in (180.1 mm) recorded in the latter. The rainfall triggered more than 80 landslides statewide, and two were killed in a rockslide near the town of Jacala. Swollen rivers in El Arenal and Huejutla caused two drownings. Total damage from Arlene reached Mex$2.6 billion (US$207.4 million) across Hidalgo. In response, the state government allocated a total Mex$17 million (US$1.45 million) for rehabilitation works. Downpours in the state of Puebla triggered landslides that cut off roads to traffic. Toppled trees struck a home in the municipality of Zihuateutla, killing its inhabitant. In Tlacotepec municipality, a girl was left missing after falling into a rushing stream; by July 4, officials confirmed she had drowned. After hours of prolonged rainfall, concerns arose over the potential overflow of a dam in the municipality of Tlatlauquitepec. Three houses sustained damage in Eloxochitlán as a consequence of excessively saturated soils, and another collapsed in Atempan. Elsewhere in Puebla, mud and flood waters reached 1.6 ft (0.5 m) in a school after a nearby river overflowed.
caption: Overcast conditions created by Arlene on moving ashore
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