Tag Archives: Ignacio

Tropical Storm Ignacio Develops Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Ignacio developed southwest of Baja California on Monday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Ignacio was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it about 415 miles (665 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Ignacio was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Ten-E strengthened on Monday morning and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Ignacio. The circulation around Ignacio was asymmetrical. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of tropical storm Ignacio. Bands in the eastern side of Ignacio consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms west of the center of circulation generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. Even though the stronger thunderstorms were on the western side of Tropical Storm Ignacio, the strongest winds were occurring in the northeastern quadrant of the circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Ignacio. Winds in the other parts of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Ignacio will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Ignacio will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C. It will move under the southwestern part of a strong upper level ridge centered over Baja California. The ridge will produce strong easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ignacio’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and they were the cause of the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms. The wind shear will limit intensification. Tropical Storm Ignacio could get a little stronger during the next 24 hours. Ignacio will move over cooler water on Tuesday and it is likely to weaken.

Tropical Storm Ignacio will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Ignacio toward the west-northwest during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Ignacio will remain far to the west of Baja California.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Hilda was located west of Tropical Storm Ignacio. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Hilda was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 122.6°W which put it about 975 miles (1570 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Hilda was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.

Trio of Cat. 4 Hurricanes Churn Across the Pacific

A trio of powerful Category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Scale churned across the Central and Eastern North Pacific on Saturday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Ignacio was located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 147.6°W which put it about 525 miles (845 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Ignacio was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there wind gusts to 170 m.p.h. (275 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 951 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Jimena was located at latitude 13.3°N and longitude 127.5°W which put it about 1330 miles (2140 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Jimena was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 170 m.p.h. (275 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 945 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Kilo was located at latitude 18.4°N and longitude 176.2°W which put it about 680 miles (1095 km) south of Midway Island.  Kilo was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 135 m.p.h. (215 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 948 mb.

Ignacio is the only one of the three powerful hurricane to pose an imminent threat to land.  On its anticipated track Ignacio could be northeast of the Big Island of Hawaii in about 48 hours.  Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for Hawaii County and Maui County including the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.  An upper level trough passing north of Hawaii will cause westerly winds and increasing vertical wind shear over Ignacio as it moves closer to Hawaii.  Ignacio should weaken but it could still be a hurricane when it makes its closest approach to Hawaii.  Given the size of the circulation around Ignacio, Tropical Storm Watches were issued for some of the islands.

Jimena may be the most well organized of the three hurricanes.  It has concentric eyewalls and a very symmetrical structure.  Eyewall replacement cycles will cause fluctuations in the intensity of Jimena.  However, it is in a very favorable environment and it could reach Category 5 intensity at some point.  Fortunately, Jimena is about 1500 miles (2420 km) east of Ignacio and it is a long way from any land area.

After days when strong vertical wind shear kept Kilo a weak disorganized tropical depression, it intensified very rapidly during the past 48 hours.  Kilo is over warm Sea Surface Temperatures  and it could intensify a little more.  Kilo is not currently a threat to any land.