Tag Archives: Hurricane Humberto

Tropical Storm Imelda Forms Along Upper Texas Coast

Tropical Storm Imelda formed along the Upper Texas coast on Tuesday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Imelda was located at latitude 29.0°N and longitude 95.3°W which put it near Freeport, Texas.  Imelda was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 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.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Sargent to Port Bolivar, Texas.

A small low pressure system over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico exhibited greater organization on satellite and radar images on Tuesday.  When a surface weather station reported a sustained wind speed of 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h), the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Imelda.  The winds to tropical storm force were occurring southeast of the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 45 miles (75 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Imelda.

Tropical Storm Imelda will move around the western end of a warm high pressure system over the southeastern U.S.  The high will steer Imelda slowly toward the north during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Imelda will move slowly inland over east Texas.  Although Imelda will cause a small storm surge along the coast around the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, locally heavy rain will pose a much greater risk.  Southeasterly winds blowing around the eastern side of Tropical Storm Imelda will transport very moist air over parts of eastern Texas.  Over a foot of rain (0.33 meters) could fall in some locations where rain bands linger.  Flash Flood Watches have been issued for a number of counties around Houston and Galveston.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Humberto moved closer to Bermuda and Tropical Depression Ten formed east of the Lesser Antilles.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Humberto was located at latitude 30.8°N and longitude 72.9°W which put it about 490 miles (785 km) west-southwest of Bermuda.  Humberto was moving toward the east-northeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 961 mb.

A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning were in effect for Bermuda.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Ten was located at latitude 12.9°N and longitude 44.9°W which put it about 1165 miles (1870 km) east-southeast of the Leeward Islands.  It was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.  The depression is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane while it moves toward the northern Leeward Islands.

Humberto Strengthens Into a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened into a hurricane on Sunday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Humberto was located at latitude 29.4°N and longitude 77.6°W which put it about 785 miles (1260 km) west of Bermuda.  Humberto was moving toward the northeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened steadily on Sunday and the circulation exhibited greater organization.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and an eye appeared to be developing.  There was a broken ring of thunderstorms around the developing eye and the strongest winds were occurring in the eastern side of the ring.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Humberto.  There were more rainbands in the eastern half of the circulation.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Wind to tropical storm force extended out about 150 miles (240 km) on the eastern side of Humberto and out about 70 miles (110 km) on the western side.

Hurricane Humberto will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next two to three days.  Humberto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  Am upper level trough over the eastern U.S. will produce southwesterly winds which will cause some vertical wind shear.  However, the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Hurricane Humberto will intensify during the next 24 to 48 hours and it could strengthen into a major hurricane.

Hurricane Humberto moved around the western end of a subtropical high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean.  Humberto will move slowly toward the northeast on Monday.  The upper level trough and the subtropical high will combine to steer Humberto toward the east during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Humberto could approach Bermuda by late on Wednesday.