Tag Archives: Boca de Catan

Depression Strengthens to Tropical Storm Barry

Former Tropical Depression Two strengthened to Tropical Storm Barry over the western Bay of Campeche on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Barry was located at latitude 20.4°N and longitude 96.2°W which put the center about 90 miles (145 km) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.   Barry was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 1006 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Boca de Catan to Tecolutla, Mexico.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found that former Tropical Depression Two had strengthened to Tropical Storm Barry.  The aircraft found a distinct low level center of circulation.  It also found an area where the sustained wind speed was at tropical storm force.  Based on data collected by the reconnaissance flight, the U.S. National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Barry.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Barry was exhibiting evidence of strong vertical wind shear.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern side of Barry’s circulation.  Bands in the western side of Tropical Storm Barry consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Barry was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Barry’s circulation.  The winds in the other parts of Tropical Storm Barry were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Barry will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Barry will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge over southern Mexico.  The upper level ridge will produce strong westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Barry’s circulation.  Those winds will cause strong vertical wind shear. The vertical wind shear will inhibit further intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent some additional intensification.  Tropical Storm Barry could intensify a little more during the next few hours.

Tropical Storm Barry will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to over the Gulf of Mexico.  The high pressure system will steer Barry toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Barry will make landfall between Tuxpan and Tampico in a few hours.

Tropical Storm Barry will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to coastal sections of the state of Veracruz.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods, especially in mountainous areas.

Tropical Depression Two Forms Over Bay of Campeche

Tropical Depression Two formed over the Bay of Campeche east of Veracruz on Saturday afternoon.  The government of Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Warning for a portion of the coast.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Two was located at latitude 19.3°N and longitude 94.2°W which put the center about 130 miles (210 km) east of Veracruz, Mexico.  The tropical depression was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 1011 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Boca de Catan to Tecolutla, Mexico.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane investigated a low pressure system over the Bay of Campeche on Saturday afternoon.  Based on data collected by the aircraft and other information, the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Two.

More thunderstorms were forming near the center of Tropical Depression Two on Saturday afternoon.  Thunderstorms were also occurring in bands in the northern side of the depression’s circulation.  Bands in the southern side of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Tropical Depression Two will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  The tropical depression will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the northwestern part of an upper level ridge over southeastern Mexico.  The upper level ridge will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of the depression’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear ill not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Depression Two will intensify during the next 24 hours.  The tropical depression is likely to strengthen to a tropical storm on Sunday.

Tropical Depression Two will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to over the Gulf of Mexico.  The high pressure system will steer the tropical depression toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Depression Two will move toward the east coast of Mexico.  The tropical depression is likely to make landfall between Veracruz and Tampico on Sunday night.

Tropical Depression Two is likely to strengthen to a tropical storm before it makes landfall on the coast of Mexico.  It will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to coastal sections of the state of Veracruz.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods, especially in mountainous areas.

Tropical Storm Watches Issued for South Texas and Northern Mexico

Tropical Storm Watches were issued for parts of the coast of south Texas and northern Mexico on Monday afternoon. A low pressure system over the Bay of Campeche was designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone One was located at latitude 20.3°N and longitude 93.2°W which put it about 380 miles (615 km) southeast of La Pesca, Mexico and about 470 miles (755 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. The low pressure system was moving toward the north-northwest 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 1001 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Port O’Connor, Texas to Boca de Catan, Mexico.

A large low pressure system formed over the Bay of Campeche on Monday. The low pressure system did not exhibit the usual structural features of a tropical cyclone. So, the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone One. Since the low pressure system has the potential to develop into a tropical storm, Tropical Storm Watches were issued for the coast of southern Texas and northern Mexico.

The large low pressure system did not have a well defined, distinct low level center of circulation. There were few thunderstorms in the broad region around the middle of the low pressure system. The surface winds were relatively weak near the middle of the low pressure system. The strongest winds were occurring in a band of thunderstorms about 285 miles (460 km) northeast of the middle of Potential Tropical Cyclone One. Some winds in that area were blowing at tropical storm force. Elsewhere in the low pressure system, the winds were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

The low pressure system will move through an environment favorable for the development of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Potential Tropical Cyclone One will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the the center of an upper level ridge centered near the Yucatan Peninsula. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Potential Tropical Cyclone One could develop into a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. A distinct low level center of circulation would have to form. Thunderstorms would have to develop and to persist near the low level center. The strongest winds would need to occur near the low level center of circulation in order for Potential Tropical Cyclone One to be classified as a tropical storm.

Potential Tropical Cyclone One will move around the northeastern part of a large counterclockwise circulation call a Central American Gyre (CAG). The Central American Gyre will steer the low pressure system toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. A strong high pressure system over the eastern U.S. will turn the low pressure system toward the west-northwest on Wednesday. On its anticipated track, Potential Tropical Cyclone One could approach the coast of northern Mexico or southern Texas on Wednesday evening.

Potential Tropical Cyclone One could be a tropical storm when it approaches the coast. That is the reason the Tropical Storm Watches were issued. Even if Potential Tropical Cyclone One does not develop into a tropical storm, it will drop heavy rain on parts of northern Mexico and southern Texas. The low pressure system could also cause a storm surge of up to four feet (one meter) where the winds blow the water toward the coast.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Four Prompts Tropical Storm Warnings for Texas and Mexico

A weather system over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico was designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four on Friday afternoon and Tropical Storm Warnings were issued for portions of the coasts of Texas and Mexico. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Four was located at latitude 20.7°N and longitude 94.5°W which put it about 400 miles (640 km) south-southeast of the Mouth of the Rio Grande River. Potential Tropical Cyclone Four was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 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 1009 mb.

A Tropical Cyclone Warning was issued for the portion of the coast from Port Mansfield, Texas to Boca de Catan, Mexico.

A weather system over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico exhibited more organization on Friday. However, observations from a U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane on Friday afternoon indicated that there was not a well defined center of low level circulation in the weather system. The National Hurricane Center designated the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four in order to issue a Tropical Storm Warning for the coast of South Texas. The government of Mexico also issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the northern coast of Mexico.

More thunderstorms developed in Potential Tropical Cyclone Four on Friday afternoon. Some of the thunderstorms in the eastern half of the circulation appeared to be organizing into bands. The thunderstorms in Potential Tropical Cyclone Four began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the weather system.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Four will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Potential Tropical Cyclone Four will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 30˚C. It will move under an upper level ridge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The upper level winds are weak in that region and there will be little vertical wind shear. Potential Tropical Cyclone Four is likely to intensify during the next 18 hours. A well defined low level center of circulation will have to develop in order for the system to become a tropical storm.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Four will move around the southwestern part of a subtropical high pressure system that extends over the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Potential Tropical Cyclone Four toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Potential Tropical Cyclone Four will make landfall south of Brownsville, Texas during Saturday night. It will bring locally heavy rain and gusty winds to South Texas and northern Mexico. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.