Tag Archives: Gilma

Tropical Storm Gilma Forms South of Baja California

Tropical Storm Gilma formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Sunday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Gilma was located at latitude 14.7°N and longitude 112.3°W which put the center about 585 miles (945 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Gilma was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

An area of low pressure over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California strengthened on Sunday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Gilma.  A well defined low level center of circulation was evident in visible satellite images.  However, the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Gilma was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of Gilma’s circulation.  Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Gilma consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Gilma started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Gilma was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northern side of Gilma’s circulation.  The winds in the southern side of Gilma were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Gilma will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gilma will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Eastern north Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gilma’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm GIlma is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Gilma will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Gilma toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Gilma will move farther away from Baja California.

Minimal Tropical Storm Gilma Forms Well East of Hawaii

Minimal Tropical Storm Gilma formed well east of Hawaii on Friday.  A scatterometer on a polar orbiting satellite indicated that there were winds to tropical storm force near former Tropical Depression Eight-E and the National Hurricane Center named the system Tropical Storm Gilma.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Gilma was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 128.4°W which put it about 1825 miles (2935 km) east of South Point, Hawaii.  Gilma was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Gilma was poorly organized.  There was a distinct low level center of circulation.  However, the stronger thunderstorms were occurring in bands east of the center.  Bands in the western half of the circulation consisted primarily of low clouds and showers.  A large upper level trough was located west of Tropical Storm Gilma.  The trough was producing strong northwesterly winds which were blowing across the top of the circulation.  Those winds were producing significant vertical wind shear and they were probably the reason why the stronger thunderstorms were occurring east of the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Gilma will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the weekend.  Gilma will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  However, the upper level trough will continue to produce significant vertical wind shear.  Gilma is likely to weaken to a depression and it could dissipate if the upper level winds blow the top of the circulation east of the low level center.

Tropical Storm Gilma will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific.  The strong wind shear will mean that Gilma will be steered by the winds lower in the atmosphere.  Those winds will push Gilma in a general westerly or west-northwesterly direction.