Tropical Storm Javier Forms and Heads for Baja California

Tropical Storm Javier formed west of Mexico on Sunday and headed for Baja California.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT the government of Mexico issued Hurricane Warnings and Hurricane Watches for part of Baja California.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 107.7°W which put it about 210 miles (340 km) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  Javier was moving to the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 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.

The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for the portion of the coast from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos.  A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portions of the coast from Todos Santos to Cabo San Lazaro and from Cabo San Lucas to Los Barriles.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portion of the coast from Los Barriles to San Evaristo.  A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the portion of the coast from San Evaristo to Loreto.

Part of the middle and upper level structure associate with Tropical Storm Earl moved westward across Mexico and interacted with a surface trough of low pressure near the west coast of Mexico.  The middle and upper rotation was transported to the surface and a small low pressure system formed southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  The system was originally designated Tropical Depression 11-E early on Sunday.  A weather station at Manzanillo reported a wind from the southeast at 46 m.p.h. (74 km/h) at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Javier.

Javier is a small tropical storm and the circulation is still organizing.  The tropical storm force winds are occurring within 100 miles (160 km) of the center of Tropical Storm Javier.  Most of the thunderstorms are in the western western half of the tropical storm and many are located close to the center of circulation.  The thunderstorms near the center of Javier are generating upper level divergence but it is primarily moving away to the west of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Javier is in an environment that is somewhat favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge centered near Texas is producing easterly winds that are blowing over the top of Javier.  The easterly winds are causing some vertical wind shear and they are inhibiting upper level divergence to the east of Javier.  Tropical Storm Jaiver may also be drawing in some drier air from Mexico, since it is close to the coast.  The wind shear and drier air will inhibit the rate of intensification, but Tropical Storm Javier should be able to extract enough energy from the warm SSTs to intensify.

Tropical Storm Javier is moving around the western end of the upper level ridge centered near Texas.  Clockwise flow around that ridge is steering Javier toward the west-northwest.  As Javier nears the western end of the ridge, it will turn more toward the north.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Javier could approach the southern tip of Baja California by late Monday.

Tropical Storm Javier could do some wind damage, but the primary risks will be locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding.  Tropical Storm Javier could increase the flow of moist air over the southwestern U.S. later this week and it could enhance the normal August thunderstorm activity in that region.

Tropical Storm Earl Strengthens Near Veracruz

Tropical Storm Earl regained strength on Friday after the center moved over the southern Bay of Campeche near Veracruz, Mexico.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Earl was located at latitude 18.8°N and longitude 95.0°W which put it about 85 miles (135 km) east-southeast of Veracruz, Mexico.  Earl was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 70 m.p.h. (115 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

Because Tropical Storm Earl re-intensified and the radius of tropical storm force winds expanded to the north, the government of Mexico extended Tropical Storm Warnings farther north along the coast.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Dos Bocas to Tecolutla, Mexico.

Most of the circulation of Tropical Storm Earl remained intact while it moved over land from Belize to the Bay of Campeche.  As a result, the surface part of the circulation on the northern side of Earl began to redevelop quickly as the center approached the water in the Bay of Campeche.  A primary rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of circulation and other rainbands reformed over the Bay of Campeche.  There have been hints on an incipient eye forming at the center of circulation on recent visible satellite images.  Earl is a very well organized tropical storm.

The Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C in the southern Bay of Campeche.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Upper level divergence is well formed in Tropical Storm Earl and it is pumping out mass.  The environment is favorable for further intensification.  However, the center of circulation is close to the coast and approximately 40% of the circulation is over land.  So, the proximity to land is the main factor inhibiting further strengthening.  Tropical Storm Earl does have a few hours to intensify and it could get stronger.

A subtropical ridge north of Earl is steering the tropical storm toward the west and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Earl will be very near Veracruz, Mexico in 10-12 hours.

The winds in Tropical Storm Earl are strong enough to create a storm surge of several feet (1-2 m) near where the center makes landfall and north of that location.  The primary risks from Tropical Storm Earl will be very heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Tropical Storm Earl Nearing Southern Bay of Campeche

Tropical Storm Earl was maintaining its intensity as it approached the southern Bay of Campeche on Thursday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Earl was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 91.7°W which put it about 40 miles (65 km/h) south-southeast of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.  Earl was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1000 mb.

The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the portion of the coast from Ciudad del Carmen to Laguna Verde.

Despite moving over land for almost 24 hours the structure of Tropical Storm Earl retained much of its integrity.  A primary rainband wrapped around three quarters of the way around the southern and eastern portions of the center center.  A weather station at Ciudad del Carmen reported wind gusts to tropical storm force.  The circulation of Tropical Storm Earl is still generating upper level divergence, especially to the east of Earl.  The upper level divergence pumped out enough mass to allow the surface pressure to remain near 1000 mb.

The center of Tropical Storm Earl could move near the southern Bay of Campeche on Friday morning.  The Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C in that part of the Bay of Campeche.  If Earl moves along the coast, it is likely to maintain tropical storm intensity for another 24 to 36 hours.  If the center of Earl moves out over the southern Bay of Campeche it could intensify given the organization that still exists in the tropical storm.

A ridge of high pressure is steering Tropical Storm Earl toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Earl could be near Veracruz, Mexico in another 24 hours.  The primary risk associated with Tropical Storm Earl is heavy rain and flooding.  Tropical Storm Earl is still causing heavy rain over parts of Mexico, Honduras and Belize.  However, Earl could also generate some storm surge along portions of the southern Bay of Campeche.

Tropical Storm Omais Forms over the Northern Marianas

A very broad area of low pressure developed enough of the characteristics of a tropical cyclone to be classified as Tropical Storm Omais on Thursday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Omais was located at latitude 19.5°N and longitude 146.2°E which put it about 380 miles (615 km) north-northeast of Guam.  Omais was moving toward the north at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 996 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Omais is not well organized.  Several clusters of thunderstorms exist about 100 miles (160 km) east and south of the center of the very broad low pressure system.  No thunderstorms are occurring in the western half of the low or near the center of the circulation.  An inner core does not exist at this time and the strongest winds are occurring in the clusters of thunderstorms well removed from the center.

Tropical Storm Omais is in an environment that is favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level environment is also somewhat favorable for intensification.  An upper level low is northwest of Omais and an upper level ridge is east of the tropical storm.  Those two features are generating southwesterly winds which are blowing over the top of Tropical Storm Omais.  The vertical wind shear is inhibiting the organization and intensification of Omais.

The environment should allow Tropical Storm Omais to intensify, but the large circulation will reduce the rate of intensification.  As the wind field contracts and the strongest winds move closer to the center of circulation, the structure of Tropical Storm Omais will move closely resemble a typical tropical cyclone.  When an inner core forms at the center of circulation, the rate of intensification may increase.

Tropical Storm Omais is near the western end of a subtropical ridge.  The steering currents are weak, but Omais is likely to move slowly toward the north in the short term.  A faster motion is expected over the weekend.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Omais will move near the northernmost Marianas and pass east of Iwo To.

Earl Becomes a Hurricane As It Moves Toward Belize

A NOAA aircraft investigating Tropical Storm Earl found that there were sustained winds to hurricane force and the National Hurricane Center upgrade it to Hurricane Earl at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m EDT the center of Hurricane Earl was located at latitude 17.1°N and longitude 86.0°W which put it about 150 miles (240 km) east of Belize City, Belize.  Earl was moving slightly north of due west at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 988 mb.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Bay Islands of Honduras and the portion of the coast from Puerto Costa Mayo, Mexico to the Belize/Guatemala border.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of Honduras from Cabo Gracias a Dios to the Honduras/Guatemala border and from Punta Allen, Mexico to Puerto Costa Mayo.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Earl is 10.4.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 8.0 and the Hurricane Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 18.4.  Those indices mean that Earl is capable of causing localized minor wind damage.

The structure of Hurricane Earl improved significantly on Wednesday as it moved farther from the northern coast of Honduras.  An eye developed at the center of circulation and a band of thunderstorms wrapped about two thirds of the way around the eye.  The eyewall is broken southwest of the center.  Additional bands of thunderstorms are rotating around the periphery of the circulation.  The core of strongest winds is relatively small and only extends about 60 miles (95 km) from the center.  However, outer rainbands extend at least 250 miles (400 km) from the center of circulation and the overall size of Hurricane Earl is much larger than it was yesterday.

Hurricane Earl is moving through an environment that is favorable for further intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  It is located beneath an upper level ridge and the upper level winds are weak.  So, there is little vertical wind shear and the ridge is enhancing the upper level divergence.  Hurricane Earl has another 10 – 15 hours to intensify before it reaches the coast.  Earl will weaken as it moves inland, but it could re-intensify after it moves over the Bay of Campeche.  The amount of re-intensification will depend on how long Hurricane Earl remains over land and where it enters the Bay of Campeche.

A subtropical high pressure system is steering Hurricane Earl on a track that is a little north of due west and that general motion is expected to continue for several more days.  On its anticipated track the center of Hurricane Earl will reach the coast near the border between Mexico and Belize in about 10 – 15 hours.

Since it is a hurricane, Earl will be capable of causing some wind damage.  Hurricane Earl will also create a storm surge near and to the north of where the center makes landfall because the winds will be pushing water toward the coast.  The size and number of the rainbands in Hurricane Earl will create the potential for very heavy rainfall and serious flooding as it moves inland over Belize and Mexico.

Tropical Storm Earl Forms over the Western Caribbean

Based on data collected by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane, the National Hurricane Center designated a system previously known as Invest 97L as Tropical Storm Earl.  At 12:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Earl was located at latitude 16.3°N and longitude 80.2°W which put it about 535 miles (860 km) east of Belize City, Belize.  Earl was moving toward the west at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portion of the coast from Punta Allen, Mexico to the Belize/Guatemala border.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portion of the coast from Cabo Gracias a Dios to the Honduras/Guatemala border.

The recon plane found a small closed low level center of circulation on the western edge of a cluster of thunderstorms.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Earl is very small.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.  Most of the thunderstorms are occurring in the eastern half of the tropical storm.  Those thunderstorms are generating upper level divergence which has pumped out enough mass to allow the surface pressure to decrease a few millibars during the past 12 hours.

The environment around Tropical Storm Earl is somewhat favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  An upper level low centered near the western tip of Cuba is producing southwesterly winds which are blowing over the western side of Tropical Storm Earl.  Those westerly winds are producing some vertical wind shear, which is why most of the thunderstorms are in the eastern half of Earl.  The wind shear is inhibiting intensification, but the upper low is forecast to move farther from Earl, which would reduce the shear.  If Earl move north of the coast of Honduras, it should intensify.  However, if the center of circulation moves over Honduras, then Earl could weaken fairly quickly because of its small size.

The subtropical high over the Atlantic Ocean is steering Tropical Storm Earl toward the west at a fairly rapid speed.  The high is expected to continue to steer Earl toward the west during the next several days, but the tropical storm is expected to move a little more slowly on Wednesday.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Earl is expected to pass just north of the coast of Belize.  Earl could be very close to Belize in about 36 hours.

Earl is a small tropical storm and the greatest risks are locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Typhoon Nida Makes Landfall Near Hong Kong

Typhoon Nida made landfall on Monday near Hong Kong on the coast of China.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Typhoon Nida was located at latitude 22.8°N and longitude 114.4°E which put it about 50 miles (80 km) east-northeast of Hong Kong.  Nida was moving toward the northwest t 13 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 963 mb.

Typhoon Nida made landfall on the southeast coast of China just to the north of Hong Kong.  The core of Nida is large and the typhoon is capable of causing wind damage on a regional scale.  Wind blowing toward the coast could also generate a storm surge until Typhoon Nida moves farther inland.  However, very heavy rain and fresh water flooding are much greater risks as Nida moves farther inland over China.

A subtropical ridge north of Nida is steering the typhoon toward the northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for the next several days.  The ridge will steer Nida farther inland over southeastern China.  Typhoon Nida’s fairly slow motion and large size mean that heavy rain could fall over an expansive area.  The risk for flooding will continue as Nida moves inland.

Typhoon Nida Brushes Luzon and Heads for Hong Kong

Typhoon Nida brought wind and rain to northern Luzon on Sunday as it continued to move toward Hong Kong on the coast of China.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Typhoon Nida was located at latitude 20.4°N and longitude 118.3°E which put it about 340 miles (545 km) east-southeast of Hong Kong.  Nida was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (27 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 974 mb.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Nida is 10.4.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 13.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 23.5.  These indices suggest that Typhoon Nida will be capable of causing minor wind damage on a regional scale.

The structure of Typhoon Nida changed significantly on Sunday.  The primary rainband wrapped around the core of the circulation and a very large eye was created at the center.  The diameter of the eye is approximately 50 miles (80 km).  The strongest winds are occurring in the ring of thunderstorms that surrounds the eye.  Other spiral bands of thunderstorms are rotating around the large eye.  The thunderstorms were generating upper level divergence which pumped out mass and allowed the surface pressure to decrease.

Typhoon Nida is in an environment that would favor intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  Easterly winds are blowing in the upper levels, but there is not much vertical wind shear.  The large size of the eye of Nida is the major factor inhibiting intensification.  It takes more energy to increase the wind speed in a large typhoon than it does in a smaller storm.  If the eye contracts, then Typhoon Nida could intensify more before it makes landfall.

A subtropical ridge north of Nida is steering the typhoon toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for another day or so.  On its anticipated track Typhoon Nida will be very near Hong Kong in about 24 hours.

As mentioned above, the large size of Typhoon Nida means that it will be capable of causing wind damage on a regional scale.  In addition, Typhoon Nida will be capable of creating a significant storm surge when it moves into the coast of China.  A large slow moving typhoon like Nida will also produce heavy rain and flooding as it moves inland.

Intensifying Tropical Storm Nida Nears Northern Philippines

Tropical Storm Nida intensified on Saturday as it slowly approached the northern portion of Luzon in the Philippines.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) the center of of Tropical Storm Nida was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 123.8°E which put it about 245 miles (395 km) east-northeast of Manila, Philippines.  Nida was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Nida has become increasingly well organized during the past 24 hours.  A primary rainband wraps about two thirds of the way around the western and southern sides of the center of circulation.  Additional spiral bands of thunderstorms are developing outside the core of the circulation.  Rising motion associated with the convection is generating upper level divergence which is pumping out mass and allowing the surface pressure to decrease.

Tropical Storm Nida is moving through an environment that is very favorable for further intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 31°C.  Nida is beneath an upper level ridge where the upper level winds are light and there is little vertical wind shear.  Very warm SSTs and little wind shear will allow the circulation of Tropical Storm Nida to consolidate further and it should continue to intensify.  Nida could intensify rapidly once an eye starts to form at the center of circulation.  Tropical Storm Nida will move near or over the northeastern part of Luzon.  Interaction with land could slow or temporarily stop the intensification.  However, Tropical Storm Nida should intensify further after it move wests of the Philippines.

A subtropical ridge north of Nida is steering the tropical storm toward the west-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Nida could move over the northern part of Luzon during the next 12 to 24 hours.  Nida could approach the area around Hong Kong as a typhoon in about 48 hours.

The primary threats posed by Tropical Storm Nida to the Philippines are locally heavy rain and flash floods.  Tropical Storm Nida could generate very heavy rain in locations where the circulation causes the wind to blow up the slopes of mountains.  Heavy rain falling on steep terrain in those locations could also cause flash flooding.  Nida could be a typhoon by the time it reaches the part of China near Hong Kong.  Nida will be capable of producing some wind damage and storm surge in addition to heavy rain and flooding when it reaches the coast of China.

Possible Tropical Development

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring two tropical disturbances which are designated Invest 96L and Invest 97L for possible development into tropical cyclones.

At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Invest 97L was located at latitude 13.4°N and longitude 37.0°W which put it about 1525 miles (2460 km) east-southeast of the Leeward Islands.  Invest 97L was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (34 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1011 mb.

At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Invest 96L was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 20.9°W which put it about 320 miles (515 km) south-southeast of the Cape Verde Islands.  Invest 96L was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1010 mb.

Invest 97L consists of a fast moving tropical wave over the central Atlantic Ocean.  The circulation of Invest 97L is not well organized.  A few thunderstorms are occurring near the northern part of the axis of the tropical wave, but convection is scattered.  The rapid forward motion of the wave is preventing the thunderstorms from consolidating around a center of circulation.

If the forward speed of Invest 97L slows, then it may move into an environment that is more favorable for the development of a tropical cyclone.  It is over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 27°C and it will move over warmer water as it gets closer to the Caribbean Sea.  There is not much vertical wind shear except for the low level shear created by the rapid forward motion of the wave.  There is drier air to the north of Invest 97L, but it is embedded in the moister air closer to the Equator.  NHC has a 30% probability that Invest 97L will develop into a tropical cyclone during the next five days.  As a result, NHC has tentatively tasked a plane to fly reconnaissance into Invest 97L on Saturday if it shows signs of developing as it approaches the Caribbean Sea.

Invest 96L also consists of a tropical wave, but it is more well organized than Invest 97L  There are numerous thunderstorms west of the center of circulation and some rainbands are developing south of the center of circulation.  The thunderstorms west of the center are starting to generate some upper level divergence to the west of Invest 96L.  There are some indications that a low level center of circulation may be forming.

Invest 96L is currently in an environment that is mostly favorable for further development.  It is moving over water where the SSTs are near 28°C.  An upper level ridge north of Invest 96L is causing easterly winds to blow over the top of it.  The vertical wind shear is moderate and shear is the primary factor slowing the organization of the Invest 96L.  NHC has a 40% probability that Invest 96L will develop into a tropical cyclone during the next five days.

Because it is more well organized and it is moving more slowly, Invest 96L has a better chance for developing into a tropical cyclone during the next two days.  However, Invest 96L could move into a less favorable environment after that time.  Invest 97L will be moving into a more favorable environment during the weekend.  If Invest 97L holds together until its forward speed slows, then it could have a better chance of developing in several days.  If Invest 97L becomes a tropical cyclone it could threaten portions of the Caribbean Sea.