Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Kenneth

Tropical Storm Kenneth Strengthens a Little

Tropical Storm Kenneth strengthened a little over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Kenneth was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 124.2°W which put it about 1055 miles (1700 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kenneth was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

Tropical Storm Kenneth got a little stronger on Wednesday, but the distribution of thunderstorms around was still asymmetrical. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of Kenneth’s circulation. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in that rainband. Bands in the eastern half of Tropical Storm Kenneth consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the northern side of Kenneth’s circulation. The winds in the southern part of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kenneth will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. An upper level trough east of Hawaii will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kenneth’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Tropical Storm Kenneth will start to weaken when the vertical wind shear increases.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Kenneth toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kenneth will stay far away from Baja California and Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Kenneth Forms Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Kenneth formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Kenneth was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 121.0°W which put it about 900 miles (1450 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kenneth was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 1004 mb.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California strengthened on Tuesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Kenneth. The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Kenneth was very asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in a couple of bands in the northwestern part of Kenneth’s circulation. Bands in the other parts of the tropical storm consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force were also occurring in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Storm Kenneth. The winds in the other parts of Kenneth’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kenneth will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Kenneth’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Kenneth could intensify on Wednesday, if the vertical wind shear is not too strong. An upper level trough east of Hawaii will produce southwesterly winds that will affect Kenneth later this week. The southwesterly winds will cause more vertical wind shear and the wind shear will cause Tropical Storm Kenneth to weaken.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Kenneth toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Kenneth will move farther away from Baja California.

Tropical Storm Kenneth Develops Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Kenneth developed southwest of Baja California on Friday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kenneth was located at latitude 15.0°N and longitude 119.1°W which put it about 810 miles (1305 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Kenneth was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 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.

A distinct center of circulation developed in a tropical wave southwest of Baja California on Friday.  Thunderstorms began to form near the center and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Kenneth, which was the 11th named tropical storm to form over the Eastern North Pacific during 2017.

A cluster of thunderstorms formed near the core of Tropical Storm Kenneth on Friday.  Even after thunderstorms formed near the core, the circulation of Tropical Storm Kenneth was asymmetrical.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms developed in the western half of the circulation.  The bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and low clouds.  Thunderstorms near the core of Kenneth were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the west of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Kenneth will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Kenneth will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  An upper level ridge to the north of Tropical Storm Kenneth is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds are producing moderate vertical wind shear which is probably the cause of the asymmetrical circulation of the tropical storm.  Even though there is moderate vertical wind shear, Tropical Storm Kenneth is likely to intensify and it could become a hurricane in a couple of days.

Tropical Storm Kenneth is begin steered toward the west by a subtropical ridge to the north of the tropical storm.  The subtropical ridge will continue to steer Tropical Storm Kenneth toward the west-northwest for another day or two.  When Tropical Storm Kenneth reaches the western end of the subtropical ridge, it will turn more toward the north.