Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Javier

Tropical Storm Javier Moves West of Baja California

Tropical Storm Javier moved west of Baja California on Saturday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 26.0°N and longitude 116.1°W which put it about 140 miles (225 km) south-southwest of Punta Eugenia, Mexico. Javier was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1000 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto San Andresito to Punta Eugenia, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Javier started to weaken on Saturday afternoon when it moved over colder water west of Baja California. The center of Javier moved over water where over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 25˚C. Most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Javier weakened when it moved over colder water. The bands revolving around the center of Javier’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) in the northern half of Tropical Storm Javier. Winds in the southern half of the circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Javier will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next few days. Javier will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Even though there will be little vertical wind shear, Tropical Storm Javier will be unable to extract enough energy for the ocean to intensify. Javier is likely to weaken gradually during the next few days.

Since most of the thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Javier weakened, Javier will be steered by the winds lower in the atmosphere. Javier will move south of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Javier toward the west during the next few days. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Javier will move farther away from Baja California.

Tropical Depression Eleven-E Strengthens to Tropical Storm Javier

Former Tropical Depression Eleven-E strengthened to Tropical Storm Javier over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Thursday night. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 19.9°N and longitude 111.7°W which put it about 235 miles (380 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Javier was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1000 mb.

Thunderstorms became more concentrated near the center of former Tropical Depression Eleven-E on Thursday night and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Javier. The circulation around Tropical Storm Javier was still large. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Javier’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Javier.

Tropical Storm Javier will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The tropical depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 28˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Javier is likely to strengthen during the next 24 hours. The large circulation around Javier could prevent it from intensifying quickly.

Tropical Storm Javier will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over northern Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Javier toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Javier will move parallel to the southwest coast of Baja California.

Tropical Storm Javier Near Southern Tip of Baja California

Tropical Storm Javier moved slowly toward the southern tip of Baja California on Monday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 22.5°N and longitude 109.7°W which put it about 30 miles (50 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  Javier was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 999 mb.

The government of Mexico has discontinued all Hurricane Warnings and Watches.  A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the portion of the coast from San Evaristo to Cabo San Lazaro.  A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from San Evaristo to Loreto and from Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito.

Javier is a small tropical storm.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.  The circulation of Tropical Storm Javier weakened during the past few hours.  Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter Research aircraft indicated that drier air in the middle levels had been pulled into the circulation of Javier.  The ingestion of the drier air weakened many of the thunderstorms and the wind speed decreased.  In addition an upper level ridge over northern Mexico appears to be causing easterly winds to blow across the top of Javier.  The vertical wind shear is tilting the circulation and the upper levels of Javier are tilted to the west of the surface center.

Tropical Storm Javier is in an environment that is not favorable for intensification.  Javier is over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C, but the water west of Baja California is cooler.  The tropical storm is ingesting drier air and it is encountering vertical wind shear.  The proximity of Tropical Storm Javier to Baja California may also cause the terrain to disrupt the circulation.  Tropical Storm Javier may be able to maintain its intensity at times, but it is likely to weaken during the next several days.

Tropical Storm Javier is moving around the western end of a ridge over Mexico which has been steering it toward the northwest.  Since the thunderstorms in Javier are not as tall, it is being steered by winds lower in the atmosphere and those steering currents appear to be weaker.  As a result, Tropical Storm Javier moved much more slowly on Monday night.  When a tropical cyclone moves very close to Baja California, the terrain has an impact on the structure of the storm and its ultimate motion.  It is possible that the upper and lower portions of Tropical Storm Javier’s circulation could be sheared apart.  If that happens, the lower portion of the circulation could drift slowly along the west coast of Baja California.  The middle and upper portions of the circulation could be pulled north into the southwestern U.S. by an upper level trough off the west coast of the U.S.

The primary risks posed by Tropical Storm Javier are locally heavy rainfall and flash floods.  Steep terrain in parts of Baja California exacerbate the flood risk in those areas.  It is possible that some moisture associated with Tropical Storm Javier could be pulled into the southwestern U.S. later this week.  If that happens, the moisture will enhance rainfall over parts of Arizona and surrounding states.

Tropical Storm Javier Forms and Heads for Baja California

Tropical Storm Javier formed west of Mexico on Sunday and headed for Baja California.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT the government of Mexico issued Hurricane Warnings and Hurricane Watches for part of Baja California.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Javier was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 107.7°W which put it about 210 miles (340 km) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  Javier was moving to the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for the portion of the coast from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos.  A Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portions of the coast from Todos Santos to Cabo San Lazaro and from Cabo San Lucas to Los Barriles.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the portion of the coast from Los Barriles to San Evaristo.  A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the portion of the coast from San Evaristo to Loreto.

Part of the middle and upper level structure associate with Tropical Storm Earl moved westward across Mexico and interacted with a surface trough of low pressure near the west coast of Mexico.  The middle and upper rotation was transported to the surface and a small low pressure system formed southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  The system was originally designated Tropical Depression 11-E early on Sunday.  A weather station at Manzanillo reported a wind from the southeast at 46 m.p.h. (74 km/h) at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Javier.

Javier is a small tropical storm and the circulation is still organizing.  The tropical storm force winds are occurring within 100 miles (160 km) of the center of Tropical Storm Javier.  Most of the thunderstorms are in the western western half of the tropical storm and many are located close to the center of circulation.  The thunderstorms near the center of Javier are generating upper level divergence but it is primarily moving away to the west of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Javier is in an environment that is somewhat favorable for intensification.  It is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge centered near Texas is producing easterly winds that are blowing over the top of Javier.  The easterly winds are causing some vertical wind shear and they are inhibiting upper level divergence to the east of Javier.  Tropical Storm Jaiver may also be drawing in some drier air from Mexico, since it is close to the coast.  The wind shear and drier air will inhibit the rate of intensification, but Tropical Storm Javier should be able to extract enough energy from the warm SSTs to intensify.

Tropical Storm Javier is moving around the western end of the upper level ridge centered near Texas.  Clockwise flow around that ridge is steering Javier toward the west-northwest.  As Javier nears the western end of the ridge, it will turn more toward the north.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Javier could approach the southern tip of Baja California by late Monday.

Tropical Storm Javier could do some wind damage, but the primary risks will be locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding.  Tropical Storm Javier could increase the flow of moist air over the southwestern U.S. later this week and it could enhance the normal August thunderstorm activity in that region.