Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Linda

Tropical Storm Linda Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Storm Linda formed south of Mexico on Tuesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Linda was located at latitude 14.4°N and longitude 102.8°W which put it about 260 miles (480 km) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Linda was moving toward the west-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 1003 mb.

The circulation around a low pressure system south of Mexico strengthened on Tuesday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Linda. The inner end of a rainband was wrapping around the western and southern sides of the center of Linda. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) on the eastern side of Linda. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles in the western half of the circulation.

Tropical Storm Linda will move through an environment relatively favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Linda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge centered over Mexico. The ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Tropical Storm Linda’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification but it may not strong enough to prevent Linda from strengthening.

Tropical Storm Linda will move south of a high pressure system that extends from Mexico westward over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Linda toward the west-northwest during the next several days. On it anticipated track Tropical Storm Linda will move away from Mexico.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Kevin was spinning south of Baja California. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Kevin was located at latitude 19.1°N and longitude 115.5°W which put it about 445 miles (720 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kevin was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 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 1000 mb.

Tropical Storm Linda Forms South of Baja California

A spiral band continued to wrap more tightly around the center of circulation inside a large low pressure system west of Mexico on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Linda.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Linda was located at latitude 14.1°N and longitude 109.0°W which put it about 610 miles (980 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California.  Linda was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

The circulation in Tropical Storm Linda is well organized.  There is one main spiral rainband and multiple outer rainbands.  Outside of the core of the circulation there are fewer thunderstorms east of the center, which could mean that some drier air is being pulled into that part of the storm.  Thunderstorms in the core are generating upper level divergence.  Linda is over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) are above 29°C.  An upper level trough near the west coast of the U.S. and an upper level ridge over northern Mexico are combining to create an outflow channel to the northeast, which is enhancing the flow of mass away from the tropical storm.  There is little vertical wind shear over the top of Linda and the environment is favorable for further intensification.  A period of rapid intensification is possible and Linda is likely to become a hurricane.  Eventually, when it moves farther north, Linda will move into an area of cooler SSTs and more vertical wind shear, which will cause it to weaken.

Linda appears to be moving a little more toward the west-northwest this afternoon.  The upper level ridge over northern Mexico is expected to steer it in a generally northwesterly direction during the next few days.  On its anticipated track, Linda would move west of Baja California during the middle of next week.