Tag Archives: Hurricane Agatha

Hurricane Agatha Makes Landfall Near Puerto Angel, Mexico

Hurricane Agatha made landfall near Puerto Angel, Mexico on Monday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Agatha was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 96.6°W which put it about 5 miles (10 km) west of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the northeast at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Barra de Tonala. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado and from Salina Cruz to Boca de Pijijiapan, Mexico.

Hurricane Agatha maintained its intensity until it made landfall on the southern coast of Mexico just to the west of Puerto Angel on Sunday afternoon. A reconnaissance aircraft reported a circular eye with a diameter of 35 miles (55 km) at the center of Hurricane Agatha. The eye was also visible on satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. The ring of thunderstorms was weaker south of the eye. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Agatha. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Agatha increased slightly in size on Sunday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Agatha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Agatha was 17.8. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 8.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 26.6.

An upper level trough over northern Mexico will steer Hurricane Agatha toward the northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Agatha will move inland over Oaxaca. The center of Agatha could pass northwest of Tehuantepec and Salina Cruz on Monday night. Hurricane Agatha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Oaxaca. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Agatha could produce a storm surge of ten feet (three meters) along portions of the coast of Oaxaca. Hurricane Agatha could cause localized serious damage.

The lower part of Hurricane Agatha’s circulation will weaken quickly when it moves over mountains in southern Mexico. The upper level trough over northern Mexico will steer the middle and upper parts of Agatha’s circulation toward the northeast during the next 24 hours. The middle and upper parts of Hurricane Agatha could emerge over the Bay of Campeche or northwest Caribbean Sea in a couple of days. Those parts of Agatha’s circulation could contribute to the development of a tropical or subtropical cyclone over the Gulf of Mexico, northwest Caribbean Sea or western Atlantic Ocean later this week.

Hurricane Agatha Nears Southern Mexico

Hurricane Agatha neared southern Mexico on Monday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Agatha was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 97.3°W which put it about 65 miles (105 km) southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the northeast at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Barra de Tonala. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado and from Salina Cruz to Boca de Pijijiapan, Mexico.

Hurricane Agatha did not change much during Sunday night. A small circular eye was present at the center of Hurricane Agatha. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Agatha. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Agatha was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Agatha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Agatha was 19.2. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 7.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 26.5. The intensity of Hurricane Agatha was the same as the intensity of Hurricane Sally when Sally hit northwest Florida in 2020. Agatha was smaller than Sally was.

Hurricane Agatha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Agatha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the center of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Agatha could strengthen a little before it reaches Mexico. An upper level trough over Baja California will approach Agatha as the hurricane makes landfall on the coast of Mexico. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Agatha’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. More wind shear will make the environment less favorable for intensification. The circulation around Hurricane Agatha could pull drier air over Mexico into the western part of Agatha. More vertical wind shear and drier air could cause Hurricane Agatha to start to weaken just prior to landfall.

The upper level trough over Baja California will steer Agatha toward the northeast more quickly on Monday. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Agatha will make landfall on the coast of Mexico near Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel in a few hours. Hurricane Agatha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Oaxaca and Chiapas. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Agatha could produce a storm surge of ten feet (three meters) along portions of the coast of Oaxaca. Hurricane Agatha could cause localized serious damage.

Hurricane Agatha Rapidly Intensifies to Cat. 2

Hurricane Agatha rapidly intensified to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Sunday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Agatha was located at latitude 14.1°N and longitude 98.7°W which put it about 185 miles (290 km) southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the northeast at 1 m.p.h. (2 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 964 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Barra de Tonala. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado and from Salina Cruz to Boca de Pijijiapan, Mexico.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane found that Hurricane Agatha had rapidly intensified to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Sunday afternoon. A small circular eye formed at the center of Hurricane Agatha. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Agatha. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Agatha was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Agatha’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (175 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Agatha was 19.2. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 7.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 26.4.

Hurricane Agatha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Agatha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the center of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Agatha is likely to intensify during the next 18 hours. An upper level trough over Baja California will approach Hurricane Agatha on Monday. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Agatha’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. More wind shear will make the environment less favorable for intensification.

Hurricane Agatha will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over Central America and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Agatha toward the northeast on Sunday night. The upper level trough over Baja California will steer Agatha toward the northeast more quickly on Monday. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Agatha will move approach the coast of Mexico near Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel during the middle of Monday. Agatha could be a major hurricane when it nears the coast of Mexico. Hurricane Agatha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Oaxaca. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Agatha could produce a storm surge of ten feet (three meters) along portions of the coast of Oaxaca. Hurricane Agatha could cause localized major damage.

Agatha Strengthens to a Hurricane South of Mexico

Former Tropical Storm Agatha strengthened to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Sunday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Agatha was located at latitude 14.1°N and longitude 99.0°W which put it about 200 miles (320 km) west-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the north-northwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Salina Cruz to Barra de Tonala. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado and from Salina Cruz to Boca de Pijijiapan, Mexico.

The center of circulation at the surface of former Tropical Storm Agatha moved under the center of circulation in the middle troposphere early on Sunday. The improved vertical structure allowed Agatha to strengthen to a hurricane. Microwave satellite images indicated that a small eye was forming at the center of Hurricane Agatha. The developing eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were in the southern and eastern parts of Agatha’s circulation. Bands in the northwestern part of Hurricane Agatha consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Agatha generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Agatha. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Agatha will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Agatha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the center of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Agatha will intensify during the next 24 hours. Agatha could undergo a period of rapid intensification once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall develop fully. An upper level trough over Baja California will approach Hurricane Agatha on Monday. The upper level trough will produce westerly winds that will blow toward the top of Agatha’s circulation. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. More wind shear will make the environment less favorable for intensification.

Hurricane Agatha will move around the western part of a high pressure system over Central America and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Agatha toward the north during the next few hours. Agatha will move toward the northeast on Sunday night when it moves around the northwestern part of the high pressure system. The upper level trough over Baja California will steer Agatha toward the northeast more quickly on Monday. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Agatha will move approach the coast of Mexico near Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel during the middle of Monday. There is a chance Agatha could be a major hurricane when it nears the coast of Mexico. Hurricane Agatha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Oaxaca. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Agatha could produce a storm surge of seven feet (two meters) along portions of the coast of Oaxaca.