Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Agatha

Tropical Storm Agatha Strengthens, Mexico Issues Hurricane Warning

Tropical Storm Agatha strengthened over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Saturday evening and the government of Mexico issued a Hurricane Warning for a portion of the coast. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Agatha was located at latitude 13.9°N and longitude 98.7°W which put it about 190 miles (310 km) southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the northwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 998 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.

Tropical Storm Agatha strengthened on Saturday. However, microwave satellite images suggested that the center of circulation in the middle troposphere could be a little to the northeast of the center at the surface. A ring of thunderstorms surrounded much of the center in the middle troposphere and the center at the surface could reform under the mid-tropospheric center. Thunderstorms around the center in the middle troposphere generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Some drier air over Mexico appeared to get pulled into the northwestern part of Agatha’s circulation. Bands in the northwestern part of Tropical Storm Agatha consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Bands of thunderstorms were in the southern and eastern parts of Agatha. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Agatha.

Tropical Storm Agatha will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next 36 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. Tropical Storm Agatha will intensify during the next 36 hours and it could strengthen to a hurricane on Sunday. Agatha could undergo a period of rapid intensification if the center at the surface reforms under the center in the middle troposphere and an inner core with an eye and an eyewall develop fully.

Tropical Storm 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 12 hours. Agatha will move toward the northeast on Sunday night and Monday when it moves around the northwestern part of the high pressure system. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Agatha will move approach the coast of Mexico near Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel on Monday afternoon. Tropical Storm Agatha is likely to be a hurricane when it approaches Mexico. There is a chance Agatha could be a major hurricane when it nears the coast of Mexico.

Tropical Depression One-E Strengthens to Tropical Storm Agatha, Mexico Issues Hurricane Watch

Former Tropical Depression One-E strengthened to Tropical Storm Agatha over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Saturday morning and the government of Mexico issued a Hurricane Watch for a portion of the coast. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Agatha was located at latitude 13.1°N and longitude 98.4°W which put it about 220 miles (355 km) south-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Agatha was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

The government of Mexico issued a Hurricane Watch for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Salina Cruz.

Tropical Storm Agatha strengthened on Saturday morning. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Agatha’s circulation. Microwave satellite images provided indications that a small eye was forming at the center of circulation. A partial ring of thunderstorms wrapped around the northern side of the center. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Agatha. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Agatha.

Tropical Storm Agatha will move through an area favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Agatha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the western part of the axis of an upper level ridge over Central America and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.. Tropical Storm Agatha will continue to intensify during the next 36 hours and it could strengthen to a hurricane on Sunday. Agatha could undergo a period of rapid intensification once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall are fully formed.

Tropical Storm 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 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Agatha will move closer to Mexico. Agatha could approach the coast of Mexico on Monday. Tropical Storm Agatha is likely to be a hurricane when it approaches Mexico. There is a chance Agatha could be a major hurricane when it nears the coast of Mexico.

Tropical Depression 2E Intensifies Into Tropical Storm Agatha

Tropical Depression 2E intensified into Tropical Storm Agatha on Saturday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Agatha was located at latitude 15.6°N and longitude 118.9°W which put it about 775 miles (1245 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Agatha was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 1005 mb.

The upper level winds blowing over the top to Tropical Depression 2E weakened and the vertical wind shear decreased.  Less vertical wind shear allowed thunderstorms on the northwestern side of the circulation to wrap around the southern side of the center.  With the center of circulation embedded near the main area of thunderstorms the National Hurricane Center named the system Tropical Storm Agatha.  Agatha is a small system and tropical storm force winds only extend out about 45 miles (75 km) from the center.

Agatha has a limited period in which to intensify further.  It is currently moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 28°C.  However, Agatha is moving toward cooler SSTs where there will be less energy to drive the circulation.  In addition, there is much drier air north and west of the tropical storm.  Since there is little vertical wind shear, Agatha could intensify during the next 12 to 24 hours.  It will start to weaken when it moves over the cooler SSTs.

A ridge of high pressure north of Agatha is steering the tropical storm toward the east-northwest and that general motion is expected to continue for another day or two.  Agatha currently poses no threat to land.

Agatha was named on July 2.  This is the latest date for the naming of the first tropical storm over the Eastern North Pacific since Ava was named in 1969.