Tag Archives: Tropical Depression Seven-E

Hurricane Fausto Strengthens a Little More

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Hurricane Fausto strengthened a little more on Friday morning as it moved toward the Central Pacific Ocean.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Fausto was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 131.2°W which put the center about 1560 miles (2510 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Fausto was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Hurricane Fausto continued to strengthen early on Friday.  A circular eye with a diameter of 17 miles (28 km) was at the center of Fausto’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Fausto’ circulation.  Storms near the center of Fausto generated more upper level divergence that pumped more mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The distribution of wind speeds around Hurricane Fausto became more symmetrical on Friday.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Fausto’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 185 miles (295 km) from the center of Hurricane Fausto.

Hurricane Fausto will move into an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fausto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 26°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is southwest of Mexico.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  There is drier air just to the north and west of Hurricane Fausto.  The drier air is likely to inhibit the development of new thunderstorms in bands in the northern and western parts of Fausto’s circulation.  Hurricane Fausto is likely to weaken during the next 24 hours because of the effects of the drier air.

Hurricane Fausto will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Fausto toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Fausto will continue to move toward the Central Pacific Ocean.  Fausto could be near the Hawaiian Islands by the middle of next week.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Seven-E formed south of Mexico.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Depression Seven-E was located at latitude 9.0°N and longitude 100.5°W which put the center about 605 miles (975 km) south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.  The tropical depression was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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.

Tropical Storm Douglas Strengthens Quickly

Tropical Storm Douglas strengthened quickly over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Tuesday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Douglas was located at latitude 12.4°N and longitude 124.2°W which put it about 2110 miles (3390 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii.  Douglas was moving toward the west-southwest 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 998 mb.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Douglas exhibited much better organization on Tuesday morning.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the southern and eastern sides of the center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around around the center of Douglas.  The strongest bands were in the southern half of Tropical Storm Douglas.  Storms near the center of circulation were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Douglas.

Tropical Storm Douglas will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Douglas 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 be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Douglas is likely to intensify into a hurricane during the next 24 hours and it could strengthen into a major hurricane later this week.

Tropical Storm Douglas will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high is likely to steer Douglas toward the west-northwest during the next few days.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Douglas could approach Hawaii by late in the weekend.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Depression Seven-E weakened over cooler water east of Hawaii.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Seven-E was located at latitude 19.3°N and longitude 134.1°W which put it about 1575 miles (2535 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California.  The depression was moving toward west at 13 m.p.h. (20 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 1009 mb.