Tropical Storm Mindy

{{storm path|Mindy 2021 path.png|colors=new}}

A tropical wave entered the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa on August 22. The wave moved westward across the Atlantic, steered by a subtropical ridge to the north, fracturing first on August 27, with the northern part becoming Tropical Storm Kate and the southern part entering the Caribbean Sea between August 28–29. Briefly on September 1, the system showed some signs of organization, prior to crossing Central America the next day and stopping further development. While crossing Central America, the wave once more broke apart, with the new southern half emerging into the East Pacific and forming into Hurricane Olaf by September 7. The northern half moved over the Yucatán Peninsula between September 3–4 and entered the Gulf of Mexico on September 5.

Trapped between two mid-level ridges to the northwest and southeast, the wave was left within an area of weak steering currents, thus it moved gradually northward. A deep-layer trough over the western Gulf of Mexico boosted the system northeastward on September 8. An overnight burst of deep convection the same day helped the disturbance become better-defined at the surface level, thus scatterometer data indicated gale-force winds and a well-defined center at 15:16 UTC. At 18:00 UTC, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded the disturbance into Tropical Storm Mindy, about 140 nautical miles southwest of Apalachicola, Florida. Throughout the remainder of the day, Mindy strengthened within environmental conditions of warm ocean temperatures of {{convert|84|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, moderate southwesterly vertical wind shear, and marginally favorable mid-level humidity of 60%. However, Mindy had limited time over the Gulf of Mexico as it raced northeastwards toward land.

At 01:15 UTC on September 9, a combination of surface observations and radar data indicated that Mindy had attained a peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|1000|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}; as it made landfall on St. Vincent Island, Florida. These radar observations along with velocity data depicted Mindy with a well-defined circulation and spiral banding upon landfall. Over the next few hours, Mindy pushed inland across Florida's Big Bend region, skirting to the south of Tallahassee. By 12:00 UTC the same day, Mindy was downgraded to a tropical depression by the NHC, before emerging back into the Atlantic Ocean just six hours later. Increases of westerly vertical wind shear combined with a recent cold front offshore the Southeastern United States caused Mindy to lose tropical characteristics and convection to become disorganized. At 00:00 UTC on September 10, Mindy transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone around 150 nautical miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. The remnant circulation was noted for another day before fully embedding within a baroclinic zone at 00:00 UTC on September 11.

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.{{Citation |title=Global Catastrophe Recap |date=September 12, 2021 |url=http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20210012-analytics-if-september-global-recap.pdf |pages=Aon Benfield |publisher= |access-date=June 14, 2022}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Mexico - Floods (Floodlist, CONAGUA, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 09 September 2021) - Mexico {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/mexico/mexico-floods-floodlist-conagua-media-echo-daily-flash-09-september-2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614124358/https://reliefweb.int/report/mexico/mexico-floods-floodlist-conagua-media-echo-daily-flash-09-september-2021 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=reliefweb.int |date=9 September 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |publisher=Reuters |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Seventeen People, Most With COVID-19, Die in Flooding of Mexican Hospital |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-09-07/17-people-die-at-mexican-hospital-due-to-severe-flooding?context=amp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614123806/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-09-07/17-people-die-at-mexican-hospital-due-to-severe-flooding?context=amp |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=US News}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Davies |date=September 4, 2021 |title=Mexico – Deadly Flash Floods in Morelos – FloodList |url=https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-floods-morelos-september-2021 |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614125759/https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-floods-morelos-september-2021 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=floodlist.com}} In Ecatepec de Morelos, state media reported on two deaths due to flooding in the area. More than 100,000 residents in the city were affected by flooding.{{Citation|url=https://mexico.as.com/mexico/2021/09/07/actualidad/1631035290_102064.html?outputType=amp|title=Inundaciones Ecatepec: Lluvias dejan dos muertos y 100 mil afectados|author=Pacheco, Adriana|newspaper=AS Mexico|date=September 7, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022|language=Spanish}} Around 60 vehicles sustained damage from the storm in Morelos, as well as infrastructure.{{Citation|url=https://politica.expansion.mx/estados/2021/09/04/lluvias-e-inundaciones-causan-la-muerte-de-4-personas-en-tlayacapan-morelos|title=Lluvias e inundaciones causan la muerte de 4 personas en Tlayacapan, Morelos|website=Expansion Politica|date=September 4, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022|language=Spanish}} Mexibús transit routes were disrupted by flooding in Chimalhuacán, in the State of Mexico.{{Citation|url=https://mexico.as.com/mexico/2021/09/07/actualidad/1631035290_102064.html?outputType=amp|title=Lluvia causa Inundaciones de medio metro en Ecatepec y Coacalco|agency=Reddación Kal|newspaper=Chilango|language=Spanish|date=September 7, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022}} A road connecting Mexico City to the state of Morelos was flooded by waters with a depth of {{convert|1.7|ft|m}}.{{Citation|url=https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/edomex/2021/09/07/vienen-mas-lluvias-e-incluso-granizo-para-el-edomex/?outputType=amp|title=Vienen más lluvias e incluso granizo para el Edomex|agency=Reddación|newspaper=El Financiero|date=September 7, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022|language=Spanish}} 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.{{Citation|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2021/09/08/sismo-e-inundaciones-dejan-varios-muertos-y-miles-de-damnificados-en-mxico/|title=Sismo e inundaciones dejan varios muertos y miles de damnificados en México|agency=EFE|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=September 8, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022}}

In Jalisco, more than 1,000 homes were damaged by flooding that reached depths of {{convert|19|in|cm}} in some areas.{{Cite web|last=Davies |first=Richard |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Mexico – 2 Killed in Ecatepec Flash Floods |url=https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-ecatepec-floods-september-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614130357/https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-ecatepec-floods-september-2021 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=floodlist.com}} 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.{{Citation|url=https://jalisco.quadratin.com.mx/principal/ampara-poder-judicial-abel-trejo-fue-inexistente-delito-peculado/|title=Inundaciones, caos vial y bardas derribadas deja lluvia de este viernes|location=Guadalajara, Jalisco|newspaper=Quadratin|language=Spanish|date=September 3, 2021|access-date=June 14, 2022}} At least three people in Guadalajara required rescue after their vehicles were swept away in a downpour.{{Citation|url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/notas/2021/07/17/estados/rescatan-a-tres-personas-de-torrencial-aguacero-en-guadalajara/|title=Rescatan a tres personas de torrencial aguacero en Guadalajara|author=Santos, Javier|newspaper=La Jornada|date=17 July 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2022|language=Spanish}} 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 {{convert|5.9|in|cm}}.{{Citation|url=https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/fuerte-lluvia-vuelve-a-provocar-inundaciones-en-zapopan-jalisco/|title=Fuerte lluvia vuelve a provocar inundaciones en Zapopan, Jalisco|author=Gutiérrez, Raul|newspaper=Noticieras Televisa|date=September 5, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2022|language=Spanish}}

File:Mindy 2021-09-08 1850Z.jpg

{{See also|List of United States tornadoes from July to September 2021#September 8 event}}

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. Prior rainfall from Hurricane Elsa and Hurricane Ida saturated low—lying areas in Dixie County, forcing residents to evacuate.{{Citation|url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/national/2021/09/09/tropical-storm-mindy-dumps-rain-across-florida-panhandle/?outputType=amp|title=Mindy dumps rain on SC and GA coast, moves off into Atlantic|newspaper=News 4 Jax|agency=Associated Press|date=September 9, 2021|access-date=June 20, 2021}} 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.{{Citation|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kj3Zu9VVix8|title=Tropical Storm Mindy Makes Landfall In Florida Overnight|newspaper=Today|date=September 9, 2021|access-date=June 20, 2022|via=YouTube}}

In the United States, Mindy left overall minor damage from tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall. A peak wind gust of {{convert|54|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|115|ft|m}} at Tyndall Air Force Base.{{Citation|author=Sosnowski, Alex |title=Quick-hitting Mindy heads out to sea after Florida landfall |url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/quick-hitting-mindy-heads-out-to-sea-after-florida-landfall/1014219 |newspaper=Accuweather |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614133255/https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/quick-hitting-mindy-heads-out-to-sea-after-florida-landfall/1014219 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 14, 2022}} A small storm surge of {{convert|1|to|2|ft|m}} was reported along the coasts of the Big Bend of Florida and Apalachee Bay. A peak surge of {{convert|2.3|ft|m}} was reported by gauge in Steinhatchee. A rainfall accumulation of {{convert|4.85|in|mm}} was observed in Tallahassee, while Mindy's outer bands produced a peak total of {{convert|5.6|in|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. Leon High School and an elementary school in Tallahassee started classes on September 9 without electricity until it was restored a few hours later.{{Cite web|last=McCloud |first=Cheryl |title=Tropical Storm Mindy brings heavy rain, gusts to Florida. What we know about damage and impacts |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/hurricane/2021/09/09/tropical-storm-mindy-rains-florida-panhandle-what-we-know-thursday/5778701001/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614130951/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/hurricane/2021/09/09/tropical-storm-mindy-rains-florida-panhandle-what-we-know-thursday/5778701001/ |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}} 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. A semi truck was blown off a road near Tallahassee.{{Citation |author=Helsel, Phil; Wong, Wilson |title=Mindy weakens quickly after Florida landfall, could bring heavy rain to parts of Georgia and S.C. |date=September 9, 2021 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/tropical-storm-mindy-forms-florida-panhandle-n1278746 |newspaper=NBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614132331/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1278746 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 14, 2022}} Flooding was reported in Lynn Haven and Parker after grounds were saturated by recent rainfall and Mindy.{{Citation |title=Storm Events Database — Florida|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=982145 |pages=National Centers for Environmental Information |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614132658/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=982145 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 14, 2022}} 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. 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.

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.{{Citation|url=https://data.savannahnow.com/mindy-power-outages/?embed=y|title=Map: Tropical Storm Mindy Power Outages|newspaper=Savannah Now|date=September 11, 2021|access-date=June 14, 2022}} Swaths of southeast Georgia up to Interstate 75 in Tifton reported {{convert|3|-|5|in|mm|abbr=off}} of rain. In Savannah, rainfall rates of an inch (25.4 mm) per hour were observed. In South Carolina, a combination of storm surge and heavy rainfall from Mindy prompted the closure of more than a dozen streets in Charleston.{{Citation|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tropical-depression-mindy-updates-hurricane-larry/|title=Tropical Depression Mindy drenches Georgia and South Carolina with heavy rain|author=Jones, Zoe Christen|date=September 9, 2021|access-date=June 14, 2022|newspaper=CBS News}} A peak rainfall amount of {{convert|5.68|in|mm}} was measured near Beaufort; rainfall totals of generally over {{convert|4|in|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=981274|title=Storm Events Database — South Carolina|agency=National Centers for Environmental Information|access-date=June 14, 2022}} 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 {{convert|6.8|ft|m}} during the storm.{{Citation|author=Garrison, Steve; Johnson, Chloe |title=Remnants of Tropical Depression Mindy bring heavy rains, flooding to Charleston |date=September 9, 2021 |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/hurricanewire/remnants-of-tropical-depression-mindy-bring-heavy-rains-flooding-to-charleston/article_5d5da9d2-115b-11ec-a8cb-0f736c9d06b8.html |newspaper=The Post and Courier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615024205/https://www.postandcourier.com/hurricanewire/remnants-of-tropical-depression-mindy-bring-heavy-rains-flooding-to-charleston/article_5d5da9d2-115b-11ec-a8cb-0f736c9d06b8.html |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022}} Flooding was reported north of the Broad River, causing county sheriffs to close some flooded streets and advising motorists to seek alternate routes.{{Citation |author=Puckett, Karl |title=TD Mindy dumps heavy rain on Beaufort County, floods roads. Here's rainfall estimates |date=September 9, 2021 |url=https://www.islandpacket.com/news/weather-news/article254100393.html |newspaper=The Island Packet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615023746/https://amp.islandpacket.com/news/weather-news/article254100393.html |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022}} Damage across South Carolina totaled $28,000. Total losses across the United States was worth $169,000.

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