Tag Archives: Punta Allen

Hurricane Lisa Hits Belize

Hurricane Lisa hit the coast of Belize late on Wednesday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Lisa was located at latitude 17.4°N and longitude 88.2°W which put it about 5 miles (10 km) south of Belize City, Belize. Lisa was moving toward the west 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 990 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Belize, and for the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the North Coast of Guatemala and the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Punta Allen, Mexico.

Hurricane Lisa intensified steadily until it made landfall on the coast of Belize late on Wednesday afternoon. Winds to hurricane force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Lisa in the northern side of Lisa. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Lisa will move south of a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Lisa toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Lisa will move inland over Belize on Wednesday evening. Lisa will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Belize. The strongest winds are north of the center of Hurricane Lisa. Lisa could bring strong winds to Belize City during the next several hours. Hurricane Lisa will also cause a storm surge of up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) along the coast of Belize. Lisa will weaken steadily as it moves farther inland. The center of Lisa will move over northern Guatemala during Wednesday night. Lisa could reach the Bay of Campeche as a tropical depression on Thursday night. Hurricane Lisa will drop heavy rain over Belize, northern Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, former Tropical Storm Martin intensified to a hurricane south of Newfoundland. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Martin was located at latitude 37.1°N and longitude 47.6°W which put it about 720 miles (1160 km) south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Martin was moving toward the northeast at 31 m.p.h. (50 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 974 mb.

Lisa Intensifies to a Hurricane North of Honduras

Former Tropical Storm Lisa intensified to a hurricane north of Honduras on Wednesday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Lisa was located at latitude 17.2°N and longitude 84.7°W which put it about 100 miles (160 km) east-southeast of Belize City, Belize. Lisa was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 988 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Belize, the Bay Islands, Honduras, and for the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the entire North Coast of Honduras, the North Coast of Guatemala, and the portion of the coast from Chetumal to Punta Allen, Mexico.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane found that former Tropical Storm Lisa had strengthened to a hurricane on Wednesday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Hurricane Lisa. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Lisa’s circulation. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The circulation around Hurricane Lisa was small. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles from the center of Lisa.

Hurricane Lisa will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Lisa will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the Caribbean Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Lisa is likely to strengthen during the next few hours.

Hurricane Lisa will move south of a high pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Lisa toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Lisa will make landfall on the coast of Belize in a few hours. Lisa will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Belize. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Hurricane Lisa will also cause a storm surge of up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) along the coast of Belize.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Martin intensified developed east-northeast of Bermuda. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Martin was located at latitude 35.3°N and longitude 52.1°W which put it about 755 miles (1220 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. Martin was moving toward the east-northeast at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 989 mb.