Tag Archives: San Blas

Nora Strengthens to a Hurricane South of Mexico

Former Tropical Storm Nora strengthened to a hurricane south of Mexico early on Saturday. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Nora was located at latitude 17.8°N and longitude 105.4°W which put it about 180 miles (290 km) south of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Nora was moving toward the north-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 983 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Manzanillo to San Blas, Mexico. Hurricane Watches were in effect for the portions of the coast from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo and from San Blas to Mazatlan, Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Tecpan de Galeana to Manzanillo and from San Blas to Mazatlan, Mexico.

Former Tropical Storm Nora strengthened to a hurricane early on Saturday morning. Infrared and microwave satellite images showed that an eye was forming at the center of Nora. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Nora. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the northeast quadrant of Nora. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Nora will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Nora will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Nora could strengthen during the next 12 hours. Nora could pull drier air over Mexico into its circulation when it moves closer to the coast. The drier air could inhibit the formation of thunderstorms and Nora could start to weaken when the center gets close to the coast of Mexico.

Hurricane Nora will move around the western side of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Nora toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Hurricane Nora could be very near Manzanillo on Saturday night. Nora will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the coast of Mexico. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in Colima, Jalisco and Guadalajara.

Tropical Storm Narda Moves Along West Coast of Mexico

Tropical Storm Narda moved along the west coast of Mexico on Monday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Narda was located at latitude 24.0°N and longitude 107.4°W which put it about 85 miles (135 km) northwest of Mazatlan, Mexico.  Narda was moving toward the northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 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 998 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from San Blas to Guaymas, Mexico.

The center of Tropical Storm Narda move just to the west of the coast of Mexico on Monday, which allowed Narda to strengthen during the day.  A distinct low level center of circulation was evident on satellite images.  The center was over the warm water in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  A ring of strong thunderstorms formed around the center of circulation and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Storms near the center of Narda were generating upper level divergence.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Narda.  The strongest rainbands were over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean west of Mexico.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.  The stronger winds were also occurring in the rainbands over the water.

Tropical Storm Narda could strengthen further during the next 12 to 24 hours, if the center of circulation remains over water.  Narda will move over a portion of the Eastern North Pacific Ocean where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  An upper level ridge over Mexico was producing southeasterly winds which were blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds were causing some vertical wind shear, but the shear was not strong enough to prevent intensification.  However, the center of Tropical Storm Narda is very near the west coast of Mexico and Narda will start to weaken again whenever the center moves inland.

The upper level ridge over Mexico will continue to steer Tropical Storm Narda toward the northwest for several more days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Narda will continue to move very close to the west coast of Mexico.  Any wobble toward the east could bring the center of Narda inland again.  Tropical Storm Narda will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to coastal parts of Sinaloa and Sonora.  Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some parts of western Mexico.