Tag Archives: Tropical Storm Paine

Tropical Storm Paine Spins Southwest of Baja California

Tropical Storm Paine was spinning over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Paine was located at latitude 18.1°N and longitude 114.0°W which put it about 425 miles (685 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Paine was moving toward the northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 1004 mb.

Tropical Storm Paine seemed to be starting to weaken on Tuesday night. Many of the thunderstorms in Paine had dissipated. The bands revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Paine consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Paine appeared to be moving into a mass of drier air on Tuesday night. The drier air caused thunderstorms in Paine to collapse. Tropical Storm Paine will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next several days. Paine will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. However, an upper level trough west of Baja California will produce southwestern winds that will blow toward the top of Paine’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. A combination of drier air and moderate vertical wind shear is likely to cause Tropical Storm Paine to weaken steadily during the next several days.

Tropical Storm Paine will move south of a high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Paine toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Paine will move farther away from Baja California.

Tropical Storm Paine Forms South of Baja California

Tropical Storm Paine formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Monday afternoon. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Paine was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 112.3°W which put it about 470 miles (755 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Paine was moving toward the north-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 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 1006 mb.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California strengthened on Monday afternoon and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Paine. The distribution of thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Paine was asymmetrical. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western half of Paine’s circulation. Bands in the eastern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the tropical storm. Paine was a small tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Paine will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Paine 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 over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Paine’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Paine could get a little stronger on Tuesday unless the upper level winds get stronger.

Tropical Storm Paine will move around the southwestern part of an high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean during the next 24 hours. The high pressure system will steer Paine toward the northwest. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Pain will remain far to the south of Baja California.

Elsewhere, Tropical Depression Orlene was dissipating over western Mexico. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Orlene was located at latitude 24.0°N and longitude 105.0°W which put it about 105 miles (165 km) east-northeast of Mazatlan, Mexico. Orlene was moving toward the northeast at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1008 mb.

Tropical Storm Paine Intensifying Quickly Southwest of Baja California

The Eastern North Pacific Ocean continues to spin out tropical cyclones.  Tropical Storm Paine intensified quickly on Sunday as it moved southwest of Baja California.  In 24 hours Paine intensified from a tropical depression to near hurricane strength.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Paine was located at latitude 19.5°N and longitude 113.8°W which put it about 345 miles (555 km/h) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Paine was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 992 mb.

Tropical Storm Paine moved through a very favorable environment on Sunday.  The Sea Surface Temperature (SST) was near 28°C.  The upper level winds were light and there was little vertical wind shear.  The favorable environmental conditions allowed a tight inner core to develop rapidly at the center of Tropical Storm Paine.  Infrared and microwave satellite imagery suggest that an eye could be forming at the center of Paine.  A nearly complete ring of strong thunderstorms surrounds the developing eye.  A primary rainband exists in the eastern part of the circulation.  Thunderstorms at the core of Tropical Storm Paine are generating upper level divergence which is pumping out mass in all directions.

Tropical Storm Paine will be in a favorable environment for another 12 to 18 hours.  It is likely to intensify into a hurricane on Monday.  After that time Paine will start to move over cooler SSTs and it should start to weaken.  The air over the cooler SSTs is also drier and more stable and Paine could weaken quickly on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Paine is moving around the western end of a ridge over Mexico which is steering it toward the northwest.  When Paine reaches the western end of the ridge axis, it will move more toward the north.  On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Paine will pass to the west of the southern end of Baja California during the next several days.