Tag Archives: 07E

Erick Rapidly Intensifies Into Major Hurricane

Erick rapidly intensified into a major hurricane over the the Central Pacific Ocean during Monday night.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Erick was located at latitude 13.4°N and longitude 142.8°W which put it about 920 miles (1485 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Erick was moving toward the west at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

The core of Hurricane Erick intensified rapidly during the overnight hours.  The eye became more circular and distinct on infrared satellite images.  The diameter of the eye was about 12 miles (19 km) on Tuesday morning.  Thunderstorms in the ring around the eye grew taller and the wind speed around the eye increased quickly.  Storms around the core of Erick generated strong upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the hurricane.  Multiple bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.

The circulation around Hurricane Erick was relatively small.  Winds to hurricane force were occurring within 25 miles (40 km) of the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 100 miles (160 km) of the center.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Erick was 20.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 8.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 28.8.

Hurricane Erick will remain in an environment favorable for intensification for about another 24 hours.  Erick will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear during the next day or so.  Hurricane Erick will approach an upper level trough east of Hawaii on Wednesday.  The trough will produce stronger southwesterly winds which will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  Hurricane Erick will start to weaken when the wind shear increases.

Hurricane Erick will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern and Central North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Erick toward the west during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Erick could be south of Hawaii on Thursday night.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Flossie was nearing hurricane strength over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Flossie was located at latitude 12.2°N and longitude 120.5°W which put it about 1015 mile (1635 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Flossie was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

Hurricane Erik and Tropical Storm Flossie Strengthen

Hurricane Erick and Tropical Storm Flossie both moved westward and strengthened over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Monday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Erick was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 140.0°W which put it about 1110 miles (1790 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Erick was moving west at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 990 mb.

The circulation around Hurricane Erick exhibited greater organization on Monday.  A small eye developed at the center of circulation.  The eye was surround by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms,  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Erick.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 70 miles (110 km) from the center.

Hurricane Erick will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours.  Erick will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Erick will intensify during the next two days and it could strengthen into a major hurricane.  Eventually, Erick will approach an upper level trough east of Hawaii and the vertical wind shear will increase.

Hurricane Erick will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Erick toward the west. On its anticipated track Hurricane Erick could be southeast of Hawaii on Thursday.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Flossie was also intensifying.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Flossie was located at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 117.8°W which put it about 895 miles (1445 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Flossie was moving toward the west at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.  Tropical Storm Flossie is also forecast to move westward and strengthen.

Fabio Strengthens to a Hurricane South of Baja California

Former Tropical Storm Fabio strengthened into a hurricane Monday morning as it moved south of Baja California.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Fabio was located at latitude 12.8°N and longitude 110.9°W which put it about 700 miles (1125 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California.  Fabio was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 989 mb.

The inner core of Hurricane Fabio exhibited signs of greater organization on Monday morning.  Microwave satellite imagery provided evidence of a rainband wrapping around the southern and eastern sides of the center of circulation.  There were intermittent signs that an eye could be forming at the center of circulation.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.  The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands south and east of the center of Hurricane Fabio.  The bands north and west of the center were weaker, which may indicate that there was some drier air in those parts of the circulation.  Thunderstorms near the core of Fabio were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

Hurricane Fabio will be moving through an environment that is very favorable for intensification.  Fabio will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  It will continue to strengthen and it could intensify rapidly once an eye forms and persists.  Fabio is forecast to strengthen to a major hurricane on Tuesday.

Hurricane Fabio is moving south of a subtropical ridge which is steering the hurricane toward the west-northwest.  The west-northwesterly motion is forecast to continue during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Fabio will move away from Baja California.

Tropical Storm Fabio Develops West of Mexico

Tropical Storm Fabio developed west of Mexico on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Fabio was located at latitude 12.0°N and longitude 107.4°W which put it about 770 miles (1240 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.  Fabio was moving toward the west-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 1000 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Fabio was still organizing.  There was a broad low level center of circulation, but it did not have a well developed inner core.  Multiple bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the broad low level center.  The storms in the rainbands were generating some upper level divergence which was starting to pump mass away from the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Fabio will move through an environment that is very favorable for intensification.  Fabio will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28.5°C.  An upper level ridge northeast of Tropical Storm Fabio will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the circulation.  However, the wind speed will be similar at all levels and there will not be much vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Fabio will continue to intensify in the favorable environment.  Once a primary rainband wraps around the center of circulation, an inner core will develop.  Tropical Storm Fabio could intensify rapidly when an eye starts to form.  Fabio could strengthen into a major hurricane in two or three days.

Tropical Storm Fabio was moving south of a subtropical ridge which was steering the tropical storm toward the west-northwest.  A general west-northwesterly motion is expected to continue during the next few days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Fabio will pass well to the south of Baja California.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean Tropical Depression Emilia continued to weaken over cooler water.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Emilia was located at latitude 19.3°N and longitude 123.0°W which put it about 880 miles (1415 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Emilia was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1006 mb.

Tropical Storms Fernanda and Greg Continue West Across the Pacific

Tropical Storms Fernanda and Greg continued to move west across the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Fernanda was located at latitude 18.4°N and longitude 141.4°W which put it about 900 miles (1445 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Fernanda was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1000 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Greg was located at latitude 14.3°N and longitude 117.4°W which put it about 770 miles (1240 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Greg was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum 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 1003 mb.

Tropical Storm Fernanda is moving through an environment that is unfavorable for intensification.  Fernanda is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 26°C.  An upper level trough northeast of Hawaii is producing southwesterly winds which are causing strong vertical wind shear over Fernanda.  Tropical Storm Fernanda has a strong low level circulation but the vertical wind shear will blow the tops off any new thunderstorms that form.  The shear is likely to cause Fernanda to continue to weaken and the low level circulation is likely to gradually spin down.

Tropical Storm Greg did not intensify much on Thursday but recent satellite images seem to indicate that Greg may be getting more organized.  A primary band of showers and thunderstorms has wrapped about two thirds of the way around the eastern and northern sides of the center of circulation.  Upper level outflow from Tropical Storm Fernanda, which is farther west and an upper level low northwest of Greg were generating strong southerly winds which were blowing toward the top of the tropical storm.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear over Tropical Storm Greg.  The upper low appears to be moving farther away from Greg.  Tropical Storm Greg is moving over water where the SST is near 28°C.  If the vertical shear diminishes and the circulation organizes, then there is sufficient energy in the upper ocean to allow Greg to intensify into a hurricane.

A subtropical ridge north of Greg is steering the tropical storm toward the west.  A general westerly motion is expected to continue during the next several days.  Tropical Storm Greg could take a path similar to the track of Tropical Storm Fernanda.

Active East Pacific With Fernanda, Greg and TD 8E

The tropical Eastern North Pacific Ocean continued to be very active on Tuesday with Hurricane Fernanda, Tropical Storm Greg and Tropical Depression Eight-E.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Fernanda was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 134.4°W which put it about 1375 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Fernanda was moving toward the northwest 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 976 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Greg was located at latitude 14.6°N and longitude 110.1°W which put it about 490 miles (785 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Greg was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1003 mb.

At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Eight-E was located at latitude 14.8°N and longitude 119.9°W which put it about 860 miles (1385 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  It was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 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.

Although Hurricane Fernanda is the strongest of the three tropical cyclones over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, it is slowly weakening as it moves over cooler Sea Surface Temperatures  (SSTs).  Hurricane Fernanda is over water where the SSTs are near 26.5°C and it will move over cooler water as it moves west toward Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Greg strengthened on Tuesday as it moved over water where the SSTs are near 29°C.  A primary rainband wrapped around the western side of the center of circulation.  Additional showers and thunderstorms formed closer to the center.  Greg is also expected to move west as it moves south of a subtropical ridge.

The future of Tropical Depression Eight-E is less certain.  Upper level divergence from Hurricane Fernanda is creating strong vertical wind shear over the stop of the depression.  The strong wind shear is causing the circulation of the depression to be poorly organized.  There are few showers and thunderstorms in the northern portion of the circulation because of the strong shear.  The stronger upper level winds could shear the top of the circulation away from the lower level circulation of the depression.  It is also possible that Tropical Storm Greg could catch up to the depression and absorb the remnants of the depression into its circulation.

Tropical Storm Frank and Tropical Depression 08E Form

The National Hurricane Center designated two new systems over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean as tropical cyclones on Thursday afternoon.  Tropical Storm Frank was the sixth tropical storm to form over the Eastern North Pacific during the month of July.  The record for tropical storms forming in July is seven.  If Tropical Depression 08E intensifies into a tropical storm then 2016 will tie the record for the most tropical storms to form over the Eastern Pacific during July.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Frank was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 104.0°W which put it about 675 miles (1085 km) southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.  Frank was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1005 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Depression 08E was located at latitude 10.8°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it about 880 miles (1415 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  The depression 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. (70 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

Tropical Storm Frank is the larger and better organized system.  A primary rainband wraps about three-quarters of way around the western side of the center of circulation.  Additional rainbands are spiraling around the outer portion of Frank.  Thunderstorms near the center of circulation are generating upper level outflow which is pumping out mass in all directions.

The circulation of Tropical Depression 08E is smaller and less well organized.  A primary rainband wraps about half way around the western side of the center of circulation.  Other partial rainbands are evident, but most of the thunderstorms are occurring in the western half of the circulation.  If looks like some of the upper level outflow from Tropical Storm Frank could be causing vertical wind shear over Tropical Depression 08E.

The environment around Tropical Storm Frank is favorable for intensification.  Frank is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  In addition, Tropical Storm Frank appears to be located beneath an upper level anticyclone, which is enhancing the upper level divergence.  Frank is likely to intensify during the next several days and it could intensify rapidly once an inner core forms around an eye.

The environment around Tropical Depression 08E is not as favorable.  It is over water the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  Upper level outflow from the anticyclone over Tropical Storm Frank is generating easterly winds and moderate vertical wind shear over the depression.  If Tropical Depression 08E and Tropical Storm Frank move farther apart, then the shear could decrease and the depression could strengthen.

A subtropical ridge is steering both Tropical Storm Frank and Tropical Depression 08E toward the west-northwest.  However, a weaker area in the ridge is forecast to develop northwest of Frank and that could allow the tropical storm to move on a more northwesterly track.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Frank could move near the southern tip of Baja California on Sunday.