Tag Archives: Juliette

Tropical Storm Akoni Develops Southeast of Hawaii

Tropical Storm Akoni developed southeast of Hawaii on Thursday.  At 7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Akoni was located at latitude 12.2°N and longitude 144.8°W which put it about 855 miles (1380 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Akoni was moving toward the west 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 1003 mb.

More thunderstorms developed near an area of low pressure southeast of Hawaii on Thursday and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center designated it as Tropical Storm Akoni when satellites indicated there were winds to tropical storm force.  The circulation around Tropical Storm Akoni was still organizing.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were forming.  The strongest rainbands were in the southern half of the circulation.  Bands in the northern half of the circulation were not as strong.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Akoni will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Akoni will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move southeast of an upper level trough northeast of Hawaii.  The trough will produce southwesterly winds which will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Akoni is forecast to strengthen gradually during the next several days.

Tropical Storm Akoni will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the eastern and central Pacific Ocean.  The high will steer Akoni toward the west-northwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Akoni will be south of Hawaii on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Juliette was weakening slowly southwest of Baja California.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Juliette was located at latitude 21.3°N and 120.8°W which put it about 870 miles (1380 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Juliette was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 980 mb.

Juliette Rapidly Intensifies Into a Major Hurricane

Hurricane Juliette rapidly intensified into a major hurricane southwest of Baja California on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Juliette was located at latitude 17.8°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it abou 440 miles (710 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Juliette was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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. (220 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 963 mb.

Hurricane Juliette intensified rapidly on Monday as it moved through an environment of warm water and littler vertical wind shear.  An eye developed at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of strong thunderstorms increased in the eastern half of the circulation.  Bands in the western half of the circulation contained fewer thunderstorms.  Storms around the core of Juliette generated strong upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 125 miles (200 km) from the center.

Hurricane Juliette will remain in an environment favorable for intensification for another day or so.  Juliette 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 not too strong and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Juliette could strengthen further on Tuesday.  Juliette will move over cooler water later this week and it will start to weaken.

Hurricane Juliette will move southwest of a ridge over the southwestern U.S.  The ridge will steer Juliette toward the northwest.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Juliette will remain well west of Baja California.

Tropical Storm Juliette Develops Rapidly South of Baja California

Tropical Storm Juliette developed rapidly south of Baja California on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Juliette was located at latitude 14.3°N and longitude 108.8°W which put it about 600 miles (965 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California.  Juliette was moving toward the northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Juliette organized very rapidly on Sunday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of circulation and a circular eye appeared to be forming at the center of Juliette.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.  Storms near the core were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Juliette will move through an environment very favorable for intensification.  Juliette will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Juliette is likely to continue to intensify rapidly during the next day or two.  Juliette is likely to strengthen into a hurricane within 12 hours and it could be a major hurricane within 48 hours.