Tag Archives: Ciudad del Carmen

Tropical Depression Karl Drops Heavy Rain on Southern Mexico

Tropical Depression Karl dropped heavy rain over parts of southern Mexico on Saturday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Karl was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 93.0°W which put it about 95 miles (150 km) east-northeast of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Karl was moving toward the southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 1007 mb.

The center of Tropical Depression Karl made landfall on the coast of Mexico between Coatzacoalcos and Ciudad del Carmen on Saturday morning. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern part of Karl’s circulation. Those thunderstorms were dropping heavy rain over western Tabasco and southeastern Veracruz. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. The circulation in the lower levels of Tropical Depression Karl will continue to weaken as it moves farther inland, but thunderstorms will continue to drop heavy rain over the region during the next few hours.

Tropical Storm Karl Moves South Toward Mexico

Tropical Storm Karl moved south toward Mexico on Thursday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Karl was located at latitude 20.9°N and longitude 93.5°W which put it about 195 miles (315 km) north-northeast of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Karl was moving toward the south-southeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Alvarado to Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.

Even though the surface pressure at the center of Tropical Storm Karl decreased by two millibars on Thursday, the maximum sustained wind speed also decreased. The circulation around Karl pulled some drier air into the western part of the tropical storm. In addition, an upper level trough over the eastern U.S. produced west-northwesterly winds that blew toward the top of Karl’s circulation. Those winds caused moderate vertical wind shear. The drier air and the wind shear caused the strongest thunderstorms to occur in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Karl. Bands in the northern and western parts of Karl consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Karl’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the east of the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Karl will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Karl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. The upper level trough over the eastern U.S. will continue to produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Tropical Storm Karl. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. Moderate vertical wind shear and drier air in the western side of Karl’s circulation will inhibit intensification. The intensity of Tropical Storm Karl could fluctuate during the next 24 hours, but Karl is likely to remain a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Karl will move around the southern part of a surface high pressure system that extends from the north central U.S. over the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure system will push Karl toward the south during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Karl will make landfall on the coast of Mexico between Coatzacoalcos and Paraiso on Friday night. Karl will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the coastal parts of Tabasco and Veracruz when it makes landfall. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Cristobal Drops Heavy Rain on Campeche

Tropical Storm Cristobal dropped heavy rain on Campeche on Wednesday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Cristobal was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 91.8°W which put it about 20 miles (35 km) south of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.  Cristobal was moving toward the southeast at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 995 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning remained in effect for the portion of the coast from Campeche to Coatzacoalcos,, Mexico.

The center of Tropical Storm Cristobal move slowly onto the coast of Mexico just west of Ciudad del Carmen on Wednesday.  The circulation around Cristobal began to weaken slowly as the center moved over land.  However, the large circulation around Tropical Storm Cristobal meant that a significant portion of the tropical storm was still over water.  That allowed Cristobal to extract energy from the Bay of Campeche to support its circulation.

A weather radar at Sabancuy, Mexico showed that the circulation around Tropical Storm Cristobal remained well organized.  Strong bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Cristobal.  The bands were dropping heavy rain over parts of Campeche and flooding was likely in some areas that received persistent heavy rain.

Tropical Storm Cristobal will be near the center of a larger counterclockwise circulation sometimes called a Central American Gyre (CAG) during the next 24 to 36 hours.  The steering currents are weak at the center of the CAG and it will likely cause Cristobal to move in a slow counterclockwise loop on Thursday.  The CAG will contract around Tropical Storm Cristobal during the next day or so.  A high pressure system over the western North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea will start to steer Cristobal toward the north on Friday.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Cristobal could approach the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico by late in the upcoming weekend.

Tropical Storm Cristobal will weaken slowly while the center is over land.  It could weaken to a tropical depression on Thursday.  However, Cristobal will continue to drop heavy rain over Campeche and parts of the Yucatan peninsula.  Very serious flooding could result from the heavy rainfall.  Tropical Storm Cristobal is likely to strengthen once the center of circulation moves back over the Gulf of Mexico on Friday.