Tag Archives: Lazaro Cardenas

Tropical Depression 13E Strengthens to Tropical Storm Lester, Mexico Issues Warning

Former Tropical Depression Thirteen-E strengthened to Tropical Storm Lester south of Mexico on Friday morning and the government of Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Warning for a portion of the coast. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Lester was located at latitude 13.4°N and longitude 96.1°W which put it about 160 miles (255 km) south of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Lester was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning included Acapulco. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Laguna de Chacahua, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect from Zihuatanejo to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Thirteen-E strengthened on Friday morning and the National Hurricane Center upgraded it to Tropical Storm Lester. Even though former Tropical Depression Thirteen-E strengthened to Tropical Storm Lester, the distribution of thunderstorms continued to be asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Lester’s circulation. Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the southern half of Lester’s circulation. The winds in the northern half of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Lester will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Lester will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over Mexico. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical depression. Those winds will cause vertical wind shear and the wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Lester likely to strengthen gradually during the next 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Lester will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Lester toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Lester will approach the southwest coast of Mexico on Saturday morning. Lester will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Guerrero. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Hurricane Rick Makes Landfall on West Coast of Mexico

Hurricane Rick made landfall on the west coast of Mexico on Monday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Rick was located at latitude 18.2°N and longitude 102.1°W which put it about 15 miles (25 km) north-northeast of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Rick was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 977 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Tecpan De Galeana to Punta San Telmo, Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo and from Tecpan de Galeana to Acapulco, Mexico.

Hurricane Rick made landfall on the west coast of Mexico between Zihuatenajo and Lazaro Cardenas on Monday morning. Rick intensified before it made landfall. The maximum sustained wind speed increased to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) which made Rick a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Even though Hurricane Rick intensified, the circulation remained relative small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Rick. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Rick was 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 8.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 26.0. Hurricane Rick was capable of causing regionalized serious damage.

Hurricane Rick was bringing strong winds and locally heavy rain to the portion of the coast between Lazaro Cardenas and Zihuatenajo. There were reports of damage in Ixtapa. Winds blowing water toward the coast were causing a storm surge. Heavy rain was falling over parts of Guerrero and Michoacan. The heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Hurricane Rick will weaken steadily now that the center is inland. However, heavy rain will spread over inland sections of Guerrero and Michoacan and flash floods could occur in those areas.

Tropical Storm Narda Brings Rain to Mexico

Tropical Storm Narda brought rain to parts of the west coast of Mexico on Sunday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Narda was located at latitude 19.1°N and longitude 103.3°W which put it about 55 miles (90 km) east of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Narda was moving toward the northwest at 20 m.p.h. (32 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 1002 mb.

The center of former Tropical Storm Narda made landfall on the west coast of Mexico between Lazaro Cardenas and Manzanillo on Sunday.  Narda weakened to a tropical depression after the center moved over land.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were dropping locally heavy rain along and just inland of the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Manzanillo, Mexico.  The rain could be heavy enough in some locations to cause flash floods.

Tropical Depression Narda is moving around the western side of a high pressure system over Mexico.  The high is steering Narda quickly toward the northwest.  Tropical Depression Narda will move along the west coast of Mexico during the next day or two.  The center of Narda could move back over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean near Cabo Corrientes.  Tropical Depression Narda will continue to drop heavy rain near the coast while it moves toward the northwest.

Tropical Storm Narda Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Storm Narda formed south of Mexico late on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Narda was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 100.6°W which put it about 115 miles south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico.  Narda was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (15 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.

An area of low pressure exhibited more organization late on Saturday and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Narda.  A low level center of circulation formed within the area of low pressure.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms developed and began to revolve around the center of circulation.  Many of the stronger thunderstorms were in bands in the western half of the circulation.  Bands in the eastern half of the circulation contained more showers and lower clouds.  An area of winds to tropical storm force was occurring about 120 miles (195 km) southeast of the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Narda will move through an environment only marginally favorable for intensification on Sunday.  Narda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  However, an upper level ridge over Mexico will produce northeasterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear which will inhibit intensification.  In addition, the circulation could draw drier air into the northern portion of the tropical storm.  Tropical Storm Narda is not likely to strengthen much during the next 12 to 24 hours.

The ridge over Mexico will steer Tropical Storm Narda toward the northwest during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Narda will approach the coast of Mexico near Lazaro Cardenas in about 12 hours.  Narda will move along the coast toward Cabo Corrientes.  Tropical Storm Narda could drop locally heavy rain in parts of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.  The rain could cause flash floods in some locations.