Enrique Moves away from Cabo Corrientes, Watch Issued for Baja California

Hurricane Enrique moved slowly away from Cabo Corrientes on Monday morning and a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for a portion of the coast of southern Baja California. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Enrique was located at latitude 20.4°N and longitude 106.7°W which put it about 65 miles (105 km) west of Cabo Corrietnes, Mexico. Enrique was moving toward the north-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 977 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the portion of the coast from Cabo San Lucas to Los Barriles, Mexico. A Hurricane Warning was in effect 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 Playa 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.

Hurricane Enrique was moving slowly away from Cabo Corrientes on Monday morning. Enrique began to weaken as it moved away from the west coast of Mexico. Drier air was wrapping into the core of Hurricane Enrique. The thunderstorms around the eye were not as tall and breaks appeared to be developing in the eyewall. The wind speed was decreasing slowly near the center of circulation. Thunderstorms were also not as strong in the bands revolving around the core of Enrique. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center.

Hurricane Enrique will move through an environment that will be less favorable for a hurricane during the next several days. Enrique will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are cooler. It will move into a region where there is more drier air. The upper level winds will be weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, a combination of cooler water and drier air is likely to cause Hurricane Enrique to weaken gradually during the next 48 hours. Enrique could weaken to a tropical storm on Tuesday.

Hurricane Enrique will move around the southwestern part of a surface high pressure system during the next several days. The high will steer Enrique toward the northwest. On its anticipated track Hurricane Enrique will move away from the west coast of Mexico. Enrique could approach the southern end of Baja California on Tuesday night. It is likely to be a tropical storm when it reaches Baja California.