Tag Archives: Santa Catalina Islands

Julia Strengthens to a Hurricane East of Nicaragua

Former Tropical Storm Julia strengthened to a hurricane over the Southwest Caribbean Sea east of Nicaragua on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Julia was located at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 82.7°W which put it about 80 miles (130 km) east-northeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Julia was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 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.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields, Nicaragua to the border with Costa Rica and from Puerto Cabezas to the border with Honduras. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, the Pacific coast of Honduras and the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Patuca, Honduras to the border with Nicaragua.

A circular eye with a diameter of 40 miles (65 km) formed at the center of Hurricane Julia on Saturday night. 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 Julia. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Julia’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Julia will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Julia 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 Julia could intensify during the next few hours. Julia will being to weaken when it makes landfall in Nicaragua.

Hurricane Julia will move south of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer Julia toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Hurricane Julia will make landfall on the east coast of Nicaragua in a few hours. Julia will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Nicaragua on Sunday. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. Julia could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the east coast of Nicaragua. Hurricane Julia will also bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to southern Honduras and to El Salvador.

Tropical Storm Julia Strengthens over Southwest Caribbean

Tropical Storm Julia strengthened over the Southwest Caribbean Sea on Saturday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Julia was located at latitude 12.8°N and longitude 79.0°W which put it about 165 miles (2705 km) east-southeast of Isla de Providencia, Colombia. Julia was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (33 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 994 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras. Tropical Storm Warning were in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields, Nicaragua to the border with Costa Rica and from Puerto Cabezas to the border with Honduras. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Patuca, Honduras to the border with Nicaragua.

Tropical Storm Julia strengthened over the Southwest Caribbean Sea east of Nicaragua on Saturday morning. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Julia’s circulation and in bands revolving around the center. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 110 miles (175 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Julia will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Julia 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. Tropical Storm Julia will intensify during the next 36 hours. Julia is likely to strengthen to a hurricane during the the next 12 hours. Tropical Storm Julia could intensify rapidly after an inner core with an eye and an eyewall form.

Tropical Storm Julia will move south of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer Julia toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Julia will reach San Andres, Providencia and the Santa Catalina Islands by Saturday evening. It could be a hurricane by that time. Julia could reach the coast of Nicaragua early on Sunday. Julia will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. Julia could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters).

Tropical Storm Julia Develops North of Colombia

Tropical Storm Julia developed over the Caribbean Sea just north of Colombia on Friday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Julia was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 73.1°W which put it about 110 miles (175 km) west of the northern tip of the Guajira Peninsula, Colombia. Julia was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (30 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 1002 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras. A Tropical Storm Warning for the portion of the coast from Riohacha, Colombia eastward to the border with Venezuela. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Patuca, Honduras to the border with Nicaragua.

Former Tropical Depression Thirteen strengthened on Friday morning after the center of circulation moved over the Caribbean Sea north of Colombia and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the weather system to Tropical Storm Julia. Almost half of the circulation of Tropical Storm Julia was still over northern Colombia. More thunderstorms formed in the northern side of Julia which was over the Caribbean Sea. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the northern and western sides of the center of Tropical Storm Julia. Storms near the center of Julia generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the Tropical Storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles in the northern side of Julia’s circulation. The winds in the southern half of Julia were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Julia will move into an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Julia 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. Tropical Storm Julia will intensify during the next 36 hours. Julia is likely to strengthen to a hurricane during the weekend. Tropical Storm Julia could intensify rapidly after an inner core with an eye and an eyewall form.

Tropical Storm Julia will move south of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer Julia toward the west during the next 48 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Julia will move over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday. Julia could reach San Andres, Providencia and the Santa Catalina Islands by Saturday evening. It could be a hurricane by that time. Julia could reach the coast of Nicaragua on Sunday morning. Julia will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen Prompts Hurricane Watch by Colombia

A weather system designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen prompted the government of Colombia to issue a Hurricane Watch for some islands in the western Caribbean Sea. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen was located at latitude 11.5°N and longitude 67.7°W which put it about 100 miles (160 km) east-southeast of Curacao. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 1005 mb.

A Hurricane Watch was in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. A Tropical Storm Warning for the portion of the coast from Riohacha, Colombia eastward to the border with Venezuela.

A weather system over northern Venezuela strengthened on Thursday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen. The center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen was near the northern coast of Venezuela. More thunderstorms formed near the center of circulation on Thursday afternoon. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving about the center. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the weather system.

The primary factor keeping Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen from strengthening is that half of the circulation is over land. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen will move into an environment favorable for intensification when the center of circulation moves over the southern Caribbean Sea. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen 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. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen could strengthen to a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. It could intensify to a hurricane during the weekend.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen will move south of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer the potential tropical cyclone toward the west during the next 48 hours. On its anticipated track the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen will along the coast of northwestern Venezuela during the next 24 hours. The center will move over southwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to northwestern Venezuela and northeastern Colombia. It will also bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Potential Tropical Cyclone Thirteen could approach the coast of Nicaragua on Sunday. It could be a hurricane by that time.