Tropical Storm Norbert strengthened as it moved over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Friday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Norbert was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 124.7°W which put the center about 2005 miles (3225 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii. Norbert was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 996 mb.
More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Norbert as it strengthened. Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the eastern side of Norbert’s circulation. Bands in the western half of Tropical Storm Norbert still consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Norbert generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The size of the circulation around Tropical Storm Norbert increased on Friday. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Norbert’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Norbert will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Norbert will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. However, an upper level low that is west of Baja California will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Norbert’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Norbert is will intensify during the next 24 hours. Norbert is likely to strengthen to a hurricane during the weekend.
Tropical Storm Norbert will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Norbert toward the west during the next 24 hours, On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Norbert will move toward Hawaii during the next few days.