Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Kay

Tropical Storm Kay Brings Rain to Southern California

Tropical Storm Kay brought rain to parts of southern California. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kay was located at latitude 30.7°N and longitude 117.2°W which put it about 140 miles (225 km) south of San Diego, California. Kay was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Eugenia, Mexico to the border with the U.S. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from Bahia De Los Angeles to Puerto Libertad, Mexico.

Rainbands in the northern side of Tropical Storm Kay dropped rain over parts of southern California. Heavy rain was also falling over parts of northwestern Mexico and there were reports of flash floods in that region. The center of Tropical Storm Kay was over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of San Diego. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Kay’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation. The strongest winds were occurring over the Eastern North Pacific and the Gulf of California. Strong wind gusts were also reported in mountains in northwestern Mexico and southern California.

Tropical Storm Kay will continue to weaken gradually. Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 22˚C. As Tropical Storm Kay weakens, the clouds will not rise as high in the atmosphere and Kay will be steered by the winds closer to the surface. Those winds will steer Tropical Storm Kay toward the west during the next 36 hours. The rain over southern California will diminish during the weekend as Kay moves westward and weakens.

Tropical Storm Kay Prompts Watch for Southern Baja California

A potential risk posed by Tropical Storm Kay prompted the government of Mexico to issue a Tropical Storm Watch for the coast of southern Baja California on Monday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Kay was located at latitude 15.8°N and longitude 106.4°W which put it about 260 miles (420 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Kay was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

The government of Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the portion of the coast from Loreto to Puerto San Andresito.

Tropical Storm Kay strengthened on Monday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the southern and eastern sides of the center of Kay’s circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the developing core of Tropical Storm Kay. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) in the northern side of Kay. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) in the southern half of the circulation.

Tropical Storm Kay will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Kay will intensify during the next 36 hours. Kay could strengthen to a hurricane within 24 hours. It could intensify more rapidly after an eye and an eyewall form.

Tropical Storm Kay will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Kay toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kay will move parallel to the west coast of Mexico. Kay could approach Baja California on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Kay Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Storm Kay formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Sunday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Kay was located at latitude 14.8°N and longitude 102.5°W which put it about 225 miles (365 km) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Kay was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 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 1004 mb.

An area of low pressure over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico strengthened on Sunday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Kay. There was a large counterclockwise circulation revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Kay. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Kay’s circulation, but there were not many thunderstorms close to the center. The strongest rainbands were in the southern half of Tropical Storm Kay. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Kay. The winds in the other parts of Kay’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Kay will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Kay will intensify during the next 36 hours, but the rate of intensification could be slow because of the large size of the circulation. The rate of intensification could speed up when more thunderstorms form near the center of Kay and an inner core develops. Tropical Storm Kay could strengthen to a hurricane within 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Kay will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Kay toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kay will move parallel to the west coast of Mexico. Kay could move more toward the north-northwest when it reaches the western end of the high pressure system on Tuesday. Kay could approach Baja California on Wednesday.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Javier moved farther away from Baja California. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Javier was located at latitude 27.2°N and longitude 121.0°W which put it about 380 miles (610 km) west of Punta Eugenia, Mexico. Javier was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

Tropical Storm Kay Forms South of Baja California

A distinct center of circulation consolidated within a cluster of thunderstorms south of Baja California and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Kay.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kay was located at latitude 18.4°N and longitude 110.9°W which put it about 315 miles (510 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Kay was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 of Tropical Storm Kay is only moderately well organized.  Most of the stronger thunderstorms are occurring in a band that wraps around the western side of the circulation.  There are also scattered thunderstorms in broken bands around the tropical storm, but much of the convection is occurring in the western half of Kay.  The thunderstorms in the primary rainband are generating some upper level divergence which is moving air to the west of the Tropical Storm Kay.

Tropical Storm Kay is moving through an environment that is marginally favorable for intensification in the short term.  Kay is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 29°C.  An upper level ridge to the north of Kay is generating northeasterly winds which are blowing across the top of the tropical storm.  The moderate vertical wind shear is inhibiting intensification and it is also contributing to the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.  The effect of the warm SSTs could allow for some additional intensification during the next 24 hours.  Tropical Storm Kay will be moving over cooler SSTs during the weekend and the effect of the effect of the cooler water with less energy will weaken the storm.

Tropical Storm Kay is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge and that is steering the storm toward the northwest.  That general motion is expected to continue for another 24 to 48 hours.  When Tropical Storm Kay moves over cooler SSTs, the thunderstorms will weaken and the circulation will become shallower.  The shallower circulation will be steered by the winds closer to the surface, which are expected to turn Tropical Storm Kay more toward the west in a couple of days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kay will pass west of Baja California.