Mexico Issues Hurricane Warning for Enrique

The government of Mexico issued a Hurricane Warning for a portion of the west coast of Mexico on Sunday afternoon because of the potential effects of Hurricane Enrique. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Enrique was located at latitude 19.0°N and longitude 105.7°W which put it about 95 miles (155 km) south of Cabo Corrietnes, Mexico. Enrique was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 977 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was issued for the portion of the coast from Playa Perula to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Manzanillo to Play Perula, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portions of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula and from Cabo Corrientes to Punta Mita, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Mita to San Blas, Mexico.

A small eye appeared intermittently at the center of Hurricane Enrique on visible satellite images on Sunday. High clouds from a ring of thunderstorms around the eye obscured the eye at other times. The strongest winds were occurring in the ring of storms around the eye. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Enrique. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Hurricane Enrique. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 110 miles (175 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Enrique will move through an environment that will be mostly favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Enrique will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. The circulation on the eastern side of Hurricane Enrique will draw in some drier air from over Mexico. The drier air could limit the formation of thunderstorms in the eastern half of Enrique. Hurricane Enrique could get a little stronger during the next 24 hours. However, if drier air makes it to the core of Enrique, it could weaken the hurricane.

Hurricane Enrique will move around the western side of a surface high pressure system during the next few hours. The high will steer Enrique toward the north during that time period. On its anticipated track the core of Enrique is forecast to pass just to the west of Cabo Corrientes during the first half of Monday. The core of Hurricane Enrique with the strongest winds is forecast to pass just west of the coast. However, the eastern side of Enrique will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to portions of Jalisco around Cabo Corrientes.

A second, smaller high pressure system is forecast to form northeast of Hurricane Enrique on Monday. The second high will steer Enrique toward the northwest on Monday. On its anticipated track Hurricane Enrique could approach the southern end of Baja California on Wednesday.