Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Moke

Tropical Storm Iselle Forms South of Baja California

Tropical Storm Iselle formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Sunday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Iselle was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 114.2°W which put the center about 595 miles (955 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Iselle was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California strengthened on Sunday morning and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Iselle.

The distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Iselle was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern part of Iselle’s circulation.  Bands in the northern side of Tropical Storm Iselle consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of Iselle generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

Wind to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Tropical Storm Iselle.

Tropical Storm Iselle will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Iselle will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C  It will move under the southeastern part of an upper level ridge that is south of Baja California.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Iselle’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Estelle could intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Iselle will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Iselle toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipate track, Tropical Storm Iselle will remain far to the southwest of Baja California.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Moke was passing south of the Big Island of Hawaii and Tropical Storm Lala was spinning far to the northwest of Hawaii.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Moke was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 155.0°W which put the center about 310 miles (500 km) south of Hilo, Hawaii. Moke was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 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 1002 mb.

At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Lala was located at latitude 32.1°N and longitude 173.9°W which put the center about 365 miles (590 km) northeast of Kure Atoll.  Lala was moving toward the west-northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 988 mb.

Tropical Storm Moke Prompts Flood Watches for Hawaii

A potential chance of heavy rain caused by Tropical Storm Moke prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a Flood Watch for portions of the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Moke was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 151.1°W which put the center about 425 miles (680 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Moke was moving toward the west-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 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 996 mb.

Flood Watches are in effect for the windward and southeastern parts of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Moke strengthened a little on Saturday.  Even though Moke was a little stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms was still asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of Moke’s circulation.  Bands in the southern side of Tropical Storm Moke consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

An upper level trough that was just east of Hawaii was continuing to produce southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Tropical Storm Moke.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear was causing the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Moke was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) in the northern side of Moke’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the southern half of Tropical Storm Moke.

Tropical Storm Moke will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Moke will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  However, the upper level trough just east of Hawaii will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear.  In addition, Tropical Storm Moke will move into a mass of drier air that is south of Hawaii.  The vertical wind shear and the drier air are likely to cause Tropical Storm Moke to start to weaken on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Moke will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is north of Hawaii.  The high pressure system will steer Moke toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Moke will start to pass south of Hawaii on Sunday.

Bands in the northern part of Tropical Storm Moke could bring gusty winds to the Big Island of Hawaii.  The strongest winds will occur at higher elevations.  Those same bands could also drop heavy rain over parts of the Big Island.  Heavy rain would likely cause flash floods because the ground is still saturated from rain caused by Hurricane Lala.

Flood Watches are in effect for the windward and southeastern parts of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Elsewhere over the Central North Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Lala was weakening gradually as it moved far to the northwest of Hawaii.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Lala was located at latitude 31.0°N and longitude 172.7°W which put the center about 380 miles (614 km) east-northeast of Kure Atoll.  Lala was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 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 981 mb.

Depression Strengthens to Tropical Storm Moke

Former Tropical Depression Two-C strengthened to Tropical Storm Moke southeast of Hawaii on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Moke was located at latitude 13.9°N and longitude 147.2°W which put the center about 660 miles (1060 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Moke was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 1002 mb.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane found that former Tropical Depression Two-C had strengthened on Friday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Moke.

Even though Former Tropical Depression Two-C strengthened on Friday, the distribution of thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Moke was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of Moke’s circulation.  Bands in the southern side of Tropical Storm Moke consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

An upper level trough that was just east of Hawaii was producing southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Tropical Storm Moke.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear was causing the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Moke was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 65 miles (105 km) in the northern side of Moke’s circulation.  The winds in the southern half of Tropical Storm Moke were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Moke will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Moke will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  However, the upper level trough just east of Hawaii will continue to cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Moke could continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Moke will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is north of Hawaii.  The high pressure system will steer Moke toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Moke will pass south of Hawaii during the weekend.

Elsewhere over the Central North Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Lala moved north of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.   At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Lala was located at latitude 28.6°N and longitude 170.4°W which put the center about 230 miles (420 km) north of Maro Reef.  Lala was moving toward the north-northeast at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 974 mb.