Roslyn Intensifies to a Hurricane; Mexico Issues Warnings

Former Tropical Storm Roslyn intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Friday night and the government of Mexico issued Hurricane Warnings and Tropical Storm Warnings for portions of the coast. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Roslyn was located at latitude 16.7°N and longitude 105.6°W which put it about 255 miles (410 km) south of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Roslyn was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Las Islas Marias. A Hurricane Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from Playa Perula to El Roblito, Mexico. The Hurricane Warning included Puerto Vallarta. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from El Roblito to Mazatlan, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Manzanillo to Playa Perula, Mexico.

Former Tropical Storm Roslyn intensified to a hurricane on Friday night near the west coast of Mexico. A small circular eye formed at the center of Hurricane Roslyn’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Roslyn. Storm near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The circulation around Hurricane Roslyn was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles on the norther side of Roslyn’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Roslyn will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Roslyn will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the axis on an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Roslyn will intensify during the next 24 hours. Roslyn could intensify rapidly at times. Hurricane Roslyn could strengthen to a major hurricane.

Hurricane Roslyn will move around the western side of a surface high pressure system centered over northern Mexico on Saturday. The high pressure system will steer Roslyn toward the north on Saturday. An upper level trough west of Baja California will steer Hurricane Roslyn toward the northeast on Saturday night and Sunday. On its anticipated track Hurricane Roslyn could make landfall on the west coast of Mexico near San Blas on Sunday morning. Roslyn will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coast. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.