Tag Archives: Manzanillo

Bud Quickly Strengthens to a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Bud quickly strengthened into a hurricane on Sunday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Bud was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 104.2°W which put it about 365 miles (590 km) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.  Bud was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 987 mb.  The government of Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the portion of the coast from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes.

Hurricane Bud strengthened quickly and the circulation exhibited the structure of a hurricane.  An eye formed at the center of circulation, although the eye was obscured intermittently by clouds.  A nearly complete ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in the ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the core of Hurricane Bud.  Most of the stronger rainbands were occurring in the eastern half of the circulation.  Winds near the core of Bud were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of mass allowed the pressure to decrease rapidly, which generated a stronger pressure gradient force and higher wind speeds.

Most of the stronger winds were occurring on the eastern side of Hurricane Bud.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 25 miles (40 km) to the east of the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 150 miles (240 km) to the east of the center.  The large area of tropical storm force winds on the eastern side of Hurricane Bud is the reason the government of Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Watch for a portion of the west coast of Mexico.

Hurricane Bud will continue to move through a very favorable environment for several more days.  Bud will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  Bud will move through a region where the upper level winds will be weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Bud will strengthen more and it could intensify rapidly during the next day or two.  Bud could strengthen into a major hurricane on Monday or Tuesday.

Hurricane Bud is moving near the western end of a ridge over Mexico.  The ridge is steering Bud toward the northwest  and that motion is forecast to continue for another day or two.  Hurricane Bud is likely to move more toward the north when it reaches the western end of the ridge.  On its anticipated track the center of Hurricane Bud will remain west of the west coast of Mexico.  Bud could approach the southern end of Baja California in four days.

Even though the center of Hurricane Bud is likely to remain west of the west coast of Mexico, some of the outer rainbands could move over parts of western Mexico.  Bud could bring gusty winds to places near the coast.  In addition Hurricane Bud could drop locally heavy rain in those areas and flash flooding will be possible.  Bud is likely to weaken before it reaches Baja California, but it could also bring gusty winds and heavy rains to that region later this week.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Aletta continued to weaken over cooler water.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Aletta was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 115.7°W which put it about 575 miles (925 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Aletta was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1002 mb.

Aletta Strengthens Into a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Aletta strengthened into a hurricane on Thursday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Aletta was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 110.0°W which put it about 455 miles (730 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Aletta was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 987 mb.

A circular eye developed at the center of Hurricane Aletta on Thursday afternoon.  The inner ends of several rainbands wrapped part of the way around the eye and a broken ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye.  The strongest winds were occurring in the broken ring of storms.  Several other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Aletta.  Storm near the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 90 miles (150 km) from the center.

Hurricane Aletta will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  Aletta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Aletta is likely to strengthen during the next day or two and it could intensify rapidly if the ring of storms completely encircles the eye.

Hurricane Aletta is moving southwest of a ridge over Mexico which is steering the hurricane toward the west-northwest.  Aletta could move a little more toward the northwest when it reaches the western end of the ridge.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Aletta will move farther away from the west coast of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Aletta Forms West of Mexico

Tropical Storm Aletta formed west of Mexico on Wednesday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Aletta was located at latitude 14.3°N and longitude 108.4°W which put it about 425 miles (680 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Aletta was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A distinct low level center of circulation developed within a large area of showers and thunderstorms over the eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Mexico on Wednesday and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Aletta.  The circulation of Aletta was still organizing.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms developed east of the center of circulation.  The bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and low clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from Tropical Storm Aletta.

Tropical Storm Aletta will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours.  Aletta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  An upper level trough located northwest of Tropical Storm Aletta will produce southwesterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Aletta will likely strengthen into a hurricane during the next several days.

Tropical Storm Aletta is moving south of a ridge over Mexico.  The ridge is steering Aletta toward the west.  A general motion toward the west-northwest is forecast for the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Aletta will move farther away from the west coast of Mexico.