Former Tropical Storm John strengthened back to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean near the west coast of Mexico on Thursday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane John was located at latitude 17.3°N and longitude 102.6°W which put the center about 55 miles (90 km) south-southwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. John was moving toward the west-northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo, Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Storm Warning includes Acapulco. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo, Mexico.
Former Tropical Storm John strengthened back to a hurricane on Thursday morning as the center moved over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean just off the west coast of Mexico. A small circular eye formed at the center of Hurricane John. 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 revolved around the core of John’s circulation. Storms near the core of John generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.
The circulation around Hurricane John was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of John’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Hurricane John. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the other parts of John’s circulation.
Hurricane John will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 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. Hurricane John will intensify during the next 18 hours as long as the eye stays over water.
Hurricane 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-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane John will make another landfall on the west coast of Mexico on Thursday night.
Hurricane John will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the west coast of Mexico. The strongest winds and heaviest rain will occur in Guerrero and Colima. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods and mudslides. Hurricane John could also cause a storm surge of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters along the coast.