Abstract

LEON-CRUZ, José Francisco; LUNA DIAZ-PEON, Antonio  and  RODRIGUEZ-GARCIA, Hugo Ignacio. Extreme precipitation events in Colima State, Mexico (1981-2018). Invest. Geog [online]. 2022, n.107, e60516.  Epub June 20, 2022. ISSN 2448-7279.  https://doi.org/10.14350/rig.60516.

Extreme precipitation events that took place over the 1981-2018 period in the State of Colima, Mexico, are described. Criteria for identifying extreme precipitation events taking into account the local variations in heavy rainfall were defined by analyzing weather station records using a peaks-over-threshold method applied to wet-days. The influence of tropical cyclones on generating extreme events was examined using the Best Track Data from NOAA’s hurricane database. The results showed significant differences in the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation events in Colima. The most severe events occurred in the southern part of the state while the greatest frequency was recorded in the north. Events associated with tropical cyclones peaked in September, while not-associated events were more frequent in August. The cumulative precipitation of events associated with tropical cyclones was twice as much that of not associated ones in some regions of the state. Identifying spatiotemporal patterns of extreme precipitation events and their interannual variations are the first steps in characterizing the risks posed by these phenomena to the State of Colima and can inform the formulation of disaster risk reduction policies to address such hydrometeorological threats.

Keywords : extreme precipitation events; tropical cyclones; hydrometeorological risk; Colima.

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