Skip to main content

Carlotta weakens to tropical depression over Mexican mountains

From the CNN Wire Staff
updated 11:37 AM EDT, Sat June 16, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Carlotta weakens to a tropical depression
  • Two girls are killed and their mother critically injured after their house collapses
  • A tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of Mexico's southern Pacific coast

Editor's note: Are you there? Share your images (if it is safe to do so) with CNN iReport.

(CNN) -- A storm over southwestern Mexico weakened further Saturday to a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said.

Carlotta was expected to continue to drench the area for another day or two, but all warnings and watches were discontinued.

The tropical depression was located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north-northeast of the resort town of Acapulco, the center said in its 11 a.m ET advisory.

It was moving toward the northwest at about 12 mph (19 kph), and the depression or its remnants would "meander" in the area for up to two days, the hurricane center said.

Tropical weather update

At least two children were killed when Carlotta slammed southern Mexico at hurricane strength, unleashing fierce winds and dumping intense rains over Oaxaca state.

The storm destroyed a clay house Friday night in Pluma Hidalgo, killing a 13-year-old girl and her 7-year-old sister, said Cynthia Tobar, a spokeswoman for Mexico's civil protection agency.

The girls' mother was seriously injured and taken to a hospital in the city of Huatulco, Tobar said.

According to preliminary reports, Carlotta ripped off the roofs of homes and caused widespread power outages and small landslides, Tobar said. Authorities will survey the area once daylight comes and and the weather conditions are favorable.

In the mountain community of Pluma Hidalgo, about 1,200 people are in shelters, Tobar said. Many more evacuated to stay with relatives or friends, she said.

Carlotta is expected to leave total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches through Monday over parts of southern Mexico, with as much as 15 inches of rain in isolated areas, the hurricane center said.

"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the hurricane center said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
Hurricane season 2012
People need to plan now for possible evacuations, power outages and other challenges as a new hurricane season approaches, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.
On the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters at Colorado State University have increased their predictions for the number of named storms for the year but are still predicting a below-average number of storms.
A near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is expected this year, with nine to 15 named storms and four to eight hurricanes, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
updated 6:05 AM EDT, Thu April 5, 2012
Folks in hurricane-prone areas of the United States and Caribbean may breathe a sigh of relief this year. Forecasters say a less-active hurricane season is in store.
updated 12:42 PM EST, Sat January 28, 2012
At least 669 people died in 2011's 14 weather and climate disasters and thousands were injured. Although no two years are alike, it's important for Americans to be prepared for the worst.
After Hurricane Katrina's devestation in 2005, erosion has become a way of life for people in parts of Louisiana.
If severe weather is happening near you, let us know on CNN iReport. Send your photos and videos, but stay safe.
ADVERTISEMENT