Tropical Storm Mindy

In Mexico, the precursor to Mindy dropped torrential rainfall between September 2–7, resulting in flooding. The worst flooding was reported in the states of Hidalgo, Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, and Jalisco. These floods caused a total of 23 fatalities and $75 million (2021 USD) worth of losses. A total of 31,000 homes were also damaged by flooding.[1][2]

In Hidalgo, the Tula River and Rosas River was affected by more than two days of heavy rainfall, resulting in the overtopping of their banks. In Atotonilco de Tula, flooding from the former river forced the evacuation of 41 individuals from a hospital, and caused the deaths of 17 others. Most of the fatalities were patients that had been hospitalized with COVID-19 as stated by Governor Omar Fayad, posting images showing nurses evacuating patients from deep floodwaters. More than 1,000 additional residents were evacuated across the city, while damage was reported to several buildings.[3][4]

Across the state of Morelos, flooding was reported in several communities which left four dead and one missing. More than 300 homes received damage, severely affecting about 1,600 citizens. In Tlayacapan, all four fatalities in the state were reported in the village where sixty homes had damage. Shelters were opened for victims of flooding in the state. Cleanup and rescue efforts were assisted by the Red Cross and local civil protection. On September 3, Governor Cuauhtémoc Blanco expressed condolences to victims and pledged to distribute relief supplies while warning of remaining river flooding in the region.[5] In Ecatepec de Morelos, state media reported on two deaths due to flooding in the area.[3] More than 100,000 residents in the city were affected by flooding.[6] Around 60 vehicles sustained damage from the storm in Morelos, as well as infrastructure.[7] Mexibús transit routes were disrupted by flooding in Chimalhuacán, in the State of Mexico.[8] A road connecting Mexico City to the state of Morelos was flooded by waters with a depth of 1.7 feet (0.52 m).[9] The precursor to Mindy affected the region on the same day as a powerful earthquake impacted the nearby state of Guerrero and was felt around Mexico City and surrounding states.[10]

In Jalisco, more than 1,000 homes were damaged by flooding that reached depths of 19 inches (48 cm) in some areas.[11] Across the southern portion of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, firefighters and members of the civil protection rescued stranded vehicles and removed debris from clogged drains to clear roads. Flooding in Tlaquepaque blocked vehicles from crossing some roads for several minutes. In one of the municipalities' neighborhoods, severe flooding inundated homes and left many stranded on their roofs. Multiple dams were overtopped in Tlajomulco as a result of excessive precipitation, spreading floodwaters over a road and halting traffic. Another street in the town was flooded by the collapse of a fence retaining floodwaters. A public transport unit collided with a vehicle carrying deployed personnel in Tlajomuclo, resulting in several injuries and the needed assistance of paramedics.[12] At least three people in Guadalajara required rescue after their vehicles were swept away in a downpour.[13] Three homes were flooded in the Zapopan neighborhood of Miramar by the overflow of a nearby stream. The neighborhood of La Primavera also suffered flooding which entered homes and caused a vacant structure to collapse. In other nearby neighborhoods, floodwaters reached a level of 5.9 inches (15 cm).[14]

Tropical Storm Mindy intensifying off the Gulf Coast on September 8

Mindy's genesis was not well forecast as the NHC was unsure about where the storm would possibly, if at all, spawn. As a result, a Tropical Storm Warning was not issued until the storm was just hours away from landfall. The first of these warnings was issued at 21:00 UTC on September 8 and covered an area from Mexico Beach to the Steinhatchee River in Florida. This warning was expanded slightly before being discontinued as Mindy pushed inland at 09:00 UTC on September 9.[1] Prior rainfall from Hurricane Elsa and Hurricane Ida saturated low—lying areas in Dixie County, forcing residents to evacuate.[15] As a precaution for Mindy, the government of New York City tested a new alert system following major flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.[16]

In the United States, Mindy left overall minor damage from tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall. A peak wind gust of 54 mph (87 km/h) was observed at Island View Park in Carrabelle, Florida on September 9 while a wind gust of 61 mph (98 kmh) was also reported at an elevation of 115 feet (35 m) at Tyndall Air Force Base.[17][1] A small storm surge of 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) was reported along the coasts of the Big Bend of Florida and Apalachee Bay. A peak surge of 2.3 feet (0.70 m) was reported by gauge in Steinhatchee. A rainfall accumulation of 4.85 inches (123 mm) was observed in Tallahassee, while Mindy's outer bands produced a peak total of 5.6 inches (140 mm) of precipitation in Beverly Hills. More than 10,000 customers lost electricity in the region because of Mindy, with outages extending into southeastern Georgia.[1] Leon High School and an elementary school in Tallahassee started classes on September 9 without electricity until it was restored a few hours later.[18] Across Leon County, two home suffered damage from downed trees, along with a destroyed manufactured home where a person was trapped inside but escaped unscathed.[1] A semi truck was blown off a road near Tallahassee.[19] Flooding was reported in Lynn Haven and Parker after grounds were saturated by recent rainfall and Mindy.[20] Fallen trees were observed across Franklin, Jefferson, Wakulla, and Holmes counties in Florida. An EF0 tornado was also spawned in Wakulla County near Crawfordville, although damage was only minor and limited to trees.[20] In Jefferson County, large oak trees were downed south of U.S. 27 and the Waukeenah Highway, leaving all customers of Duke Energy in the area without power.[20]

Scattered power outages affected most of Georgia as a result of Mindy, with the heaviest outages being reported around the towns of Pearson and Washington on the evening of September 9.[21] Swaths of southeast Georgia up to Interstate 75 in Tifton reported 3–5 inches (76–127 millimetres) of rain.[1] In Savannah, rainfall rates of an inch (25.4 mm) per hour were observed.[17] In South Carolina, a combination of storm surge and heavy rainfall from Mindy prompted the closure of more than a dozen streets in Charleston.[22] A peak rainfall amount of 5.68 inches (144 mm) was measured near Beaufort; rainfall totals of generally over 4 inches (100 mm) were observed along the South Carolina coast to the southeast of Interstate 95 from Beaufort to Charleston. A large tree crushed a vehicle and home in Burton. Another residence in Beaufort was struck by lightning, causing about $20,000 (2021 USD) worth of damage.[23] Law enforcement was forced to place barricades on flooded roads near a Charleston hospital. Floodwaters entreated a nail salon in a low-lying part of Charleston, being pushed in by passing vehicles. Tidal levels in Charleston Harbor were measured near 6.8 feet (2.1 m) during the storm.[24] Flooding was reported north of the Broad River, causing county sheriffs to close some flooded streets and advising motorists to seek alternate routes.[25] Damage across South Carolina totaled $28,000.[23] Total losses across the United States was worth $169,000.[20][23]