Tropical Storm Lisa Strengthens, Hurricane Warning Issued for Belize

Tropical Storm Lisa strengthened over the Northwest Caribbean Sea northeast of Honduras on Tuesday afternoon and a Hurricane Warning was issued for the entire coast of Belize. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Lisa was located at latitude 16.7°N and longitude 83.3°W which put it about 330 miles (530 km) east of Belize City, Belize. Lisa was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Belize and the Bay Islands, Honduras. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the entire North Coast of Honduras, the coast of Guatemala, and the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Punta Herrero, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Lisa strengthened on Tuesday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Lisa’s circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Storm Lisa. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The circulation around Tropical Storm Lisa was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Lisa will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Lisa will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the Caribbean Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Lisa is likely to strengthen to a hurricane during the next 12 hours. Lisa could intensify more rapidly after an inner core with an eye and an eyewall forms.

Tropical Storm Lisa will move south of a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Lisa toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Lisa will be north of Honduras on Tuesday night. Lisa will approach Belize on Wednesday afternoon. Tropical Storm Lisa will be a hurricane when it approaches Belize. Tropical Storm Lisa could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the north coast of Honduras. Lisa will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Belize. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Lisa will also cause a storm surge along the coast of Belize.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Martin developed east-northeast of Bermuda. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Martin was located at latitude 35.4°N and longitude 54.5°W which put it about 630 miles (1010 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. Martin was moving toward the east 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 991 mb.