Tropical Storm John Redevelops West of Acapulco

Tropical Storm John redeveloped over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Acapulco on Wednesday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm John was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 101.4°W which put the center about 105 miles (165 km) west-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico.  John was moving toward the north-northeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 999 mb.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Zihuatanejo to Acapulco, Mexico.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.  The Tropical Storm Warning includes Acapulco.

The middle level circulation of former Hurricane John drifted west-southwest during the past 36 hours.  When the middle level circulation moved back over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, it began to spin up a surface low pressure system.  The surface low pressure system intensified on Wednesday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated it as Tropical Storm John.

The circulation around Tropical Storm John organized rapidly on Wednesday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern, northern and western sides of the center of John’s circulation.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm John.  Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.

The strongest winds were occurring in the eastern side of Tropical Storm John.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the eastern side of John’s circulation.  The winds in the western side of Tropical Storm John were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm John will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  John will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will be in a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm John will intensify during the next 24 hours.  John could strengthen back to a hurricane.

Tropical Storm John will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico.  The high pressure system will steer John slowly toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm John will make another landfall on the coast of Mexico on Thursday.  The center of John’s circulation is likely to make landfall between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo.

Tropical Storm John  could be a hurricane when it makes landfall.  John will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the coast of Mexico between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo.  Heavy rain will also fall over Guerrero as John moves inland again.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Tropical Storm John could cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along parts of the coast of Guerrero.