Hurricane MARIA – UPDATE 092301

HIGH SWELLS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE SE UNITED STATES COAST –NHC

Hurricane Status as of 5:00 AM EDT Sat Sep 23
Location: 24.8°N 72.0°W
Moving: NNW at 9 mph
Min pressure: 952 mb
Max sustained winds: 120 mph [~193 km/h, Cat. 3A hurricane on FEWW Hurricane Scale]

hurricane-maria-09-23-8km-ir-noaa

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS SWIPING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

HURRICANE CONDITIONS OCCURRING ON THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS –NHC

Hurricane MARIA Status as of 11:00 AM EDT Fri Sep 22
Location: 22.3°N 71.0°W
Moving: NW at 8 mph
Min pressure: 958 mb
Max sustained winds: 125 mph [~200 km/h, Cat. 3B hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale]

WUTIP Making Landfall in Central Vietnam

Powerful winds, torrential rains lashing Indochina Peninsula as WUTIP targets Vietnam

Typhoon WUTIP is lashing eastern coast of Indochina Peninsula with high winds and heavy rains as it moves closer to landing in central Vietnam.

Typhoon WUTIP is about to make landfall on the east coast of central Vietnam with sustained winds of about 140 km/hr gusting up to 170 km/hr. The typhoon weakened slightly overnight to the equivalent of a Cat 1 hurricane force.

Typhoon WUTIP (TY 20W)

• Current position: Near 17.2ºN, 107.5E (03:32UTC on Monday, September 30, 2013)
• Movement: 25 km/hr, 280 degrees
• Max Sustained Winds: 140 km/hr
• Max Wind Gusts: 170 km/hr (expected to increase to 245km/hr)

Expected landfall: About 06:00UTC on September 30, 2013

Typhoon WUTIP. Visible/Shortwave IR Satellite Image recorded at 04:32UTC on Monday, September 30, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Typhoon WUTIP – Water Vapor Satellite Image, with the projected path superimposed. Image recorded at 04:32UTC on Monday, September 30, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

74 missing after typhoon sinks boats in South China Sea

Forty seven people are reported missing after Typhoon WUTIP capsized three fishing boats in the South China Sea on Monday, said a report.

Related Links

• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013

Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand

Extreme rains from WUTIP to exacerbate flooding in Indochina Peninsula

Typhoon WUTIP is currently a Cat 2B and expected to intensify to a Cat 3B hurricane force, headed directly toward Vietnam.

Typhoon WUTIP (TY 20W)

• Current position: Near 16.7ºN, 111.5ºE (05:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013)
• Movement: 17 km/hr, 260 degrees
• Max Sustained Winds: 175 km/hr (expected to increase to 195 km/hr)
• Max Wind Gusts: 225 km/hr (expected to increase to 245km/hr)

Typhoon WUTIPVisible/Water Vapor Satellite Image, with the projected path superimposed. Image recorded at 05:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon WUTIP. Visible/Shortwave IR Satellite Image recorded at 04:32UTC on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Flood Disaster in Thailand

The deputy PM responsible for flood management has assured the public that a scenario like the 2011 devastating floods in which all major dams in Thailand reached full capacity would not happen. Unless, off course, there’s more heavy rain in the north!

“He said the major dams in Thailand are now at half of its capacity and can contain more than 10,000 million cubic meters,” said a report.

He said earlier that the flood situation this year was “not worrying,” and that it’s “under control,” adding that “Bangkok would be 100 percent safe unless there is more heavy rain in the North for a couple of days.”

Related Links

• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• USAGI Poses a Severe Threat to Hong Kong: The HK Observatory   September 22, 2013
• Cyclone PABUK Chasing Typhoon USAGI September 21, 2013

• Typhoon USAGI Eying Taiwan September 19, 2013
• USAGI Intensifies to Super Typhoon Force  September 20, 2013
• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – September 21, 2013 September 21, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

USAGI Intensifies to Super Typhoon Force

Super Typhoon USAGI punching 260-km winds, gusting 315 km/h

USAGI, the planet’s most powerful storm so far this year, and measuring abut 1,100km wide, is moving toward southern Taiwan, packing sustained winds of 260km/h with wind gusts in excess of 315km/h.

As of 03:00UTC on September 20, 2013, SUPER TYPHOON  USAGI (TY 17W, or 1319) was located near 19.0ºN 125.0ºE, about 700km NE of Manila, Philippines and was tracking northwestward at about 15km/h  causing significant wave heights of about 18 meters.

The Monster Typhoon’s outer bands have been lashing northern Luzon for the past few hours, dumping significant amounts of rain.

The center of the storm is predicted to pass near southern Taiwan, but its northeast quadrant, usually the most powerful, could lash Taiwan’s southern half, dumping more than 320mm of rain.

USAGI is forecast to track toward Hong Kong By Sunday, but would become weakened by landfall.

Typhoon USAGI (17W, or 1319). Visible/Shorwave IR Image. 2013-09-19 @ 01:32UTC. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon USAGI (17W, or 1319) Projected Path. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

Related Links

• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

• Typhoon USAGI Eying Taiwan September 19, 2013

Typhoon USAGI Eying Taiwan

USAGI  has intensified into a Cat 2 typhoon in the NW Pacific Ocean

Typhoon USAGi (TY 17W) has strengthened into a Cat 2 Cyclone, moving slowly toward southern Taiwan.

Typhoon USAGI (1319)

• Date and Time: 2013/09/19 00:00UTC
• Location: 16.9ºN, 128.3ºE
• Movement: WNW [245º] changing to NW 9km/hr increasing to 14km/hr
• Minimum Pressure: 955 hpa
• Maximum Wind Speed:  170km/hr (90kt)
• Gusts: 205km/hr (110kt)

Several models predict USAGI could intensify into a Cat 4 Cyclone before reaching southern Taiwan region.

Typhoon USAGI (1319). Visible/Shorwave IR Image. 2013-09-19 @ 01:32UTC. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon USAGI Projected Path. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency.

Related Links

• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

The Second Coming of MANUEL

MANUEL Strengthens into a Cat 1 Hurricane

Tropical Storm MANUEL, which has battered southwestern Mexico, has now intensified into a category one hurricane approaching northwestern Mexico and threatening more destruction.

MANUEL and INGRID, the first twin storms to hit Mexico within one day since 1958, have killed at least 80 people across Mexico.

About 60 people are now reported missing after a landslide buried a village in the southwestern Mexico.

“Very powerful” landslide

The Mexican President Nieto said at least 58 people were missing after a massive landslide buried the village of La Pintada in the southwestern Guerrero state.

“It doesn’t look good, based on the photos we have in our possession … [it was a] very powerful landslide.]

MANUEL is expected to dump up to 15 inches of rain in the state of Sinaloa, which could cause deadly flash-floods, according to forecasters.

Meantime… looters ransacked the flooded Mexican beach resort of Acapulco on Wednesday … read more

-oOo-

Related Links

• Global Disaster Headlines – September 18, 2013 September 18, 2013
• Twin Storms Leave 42 Dead, 1.2 Million Battered September 17, 2013
• MANUEL and INGRID Kill Dozens in Mexico September 16, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008

UPDATE: Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI

Cyclone Man-YI Intensifies

FIRE-EARTH models show Man-Yi could strengthen into a typhoon-force storm [probability ~ 55%] before making its first landfall on Japan’s Honshu Island.

Tropical Cyclone MAN-YI. Visible/Shorwave IR Image. 2013-09-15 @12:32:00UTC. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

MAN-YI Projected track. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

STS 1318 (MAN-YI)
Issued at 13:45 UTC, 15 September 2013
Scale: Large
Center position: N31°35′(31.6°), E135°00′(135.0°)
Direction and speed of movement: NNE 30km/h (15kt)
Central pressure: 975hPa
Maximum wind speed near the center: 108 km/s
Maximum wind gust speed: 144 km/h
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Related Links

• MAN-YI Eying Tokyo, Fukushima  September 15, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008

Typhoon SOULIK to Dump 6 Billion Tons of Rain on Taiwan

SOULIK Dumping an estimated 6 billion tons of rain on Taiwan Region

FIRE-EARTH estimates Typhoon SOULIK will have dumped at least 6 billion tons of precipitation on Taiwan region.

• Such tremendous amount of precipitation over  a short period of time could cause catastrophic flash floods and potentially deadly landslides.

Typhoon SOULIK – MTSAT Funktop IR satellite image enhancement – July 13, 2013 @ 00:32UTC. Funktop enhancement highlights intense areas of precipitation. Source: NOAA/SSD

High Probability of Landslides

Taiwan authorities have warned about potential disaster in the areas most prone to landslides.

“The central region of Taiwan has experienced two earthquakes with magnitude six or above on 27 March and 2 June, loose soil after seismic activities are potential disaster areas under heavy rainfall,” they warned in a statement.

China Landing

SOULIK is expected to make  landfall in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces on the Chinese mainland on Saturday PM, the local forecasters said.

Related Links

• Typhoon SOULIK Covers 1 Million Sq Km July 12, 2013
• SOULIK Continues to Gain Mass July 11, 2013
• Typhoon SOULIK Targets Taipei, Taiwan July 10, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Typhoon SOULIK Covers 1 Million Sq Km

Rain Monster SOULIK continues to grow

Dangerous Typhoon SOULIK has grown to about 1 million km² covering an area 27 times the size of  Taiwan.

Typhoon Stats as of 00:32UTC on July 12, 2013

• Approximate position: 22.8ºN, 125.7ºE
• Movement: 280 degrees @ 12 NMPH  (~22 km/h)
• Max. Sustained Winds: 100  NMPH (185 km/h)
• Max. Wind Gusts: 125 NMPH (232 km/h)

As of 02:30UTC Friday, SOULIK was 420 km east of Yilan county on the NE coast of Taiwan.

The typhoon could make landfall in Yilan or Hualien counties on the country’s NE coast about 20:00UTC Friday, according to several models.

Typhoon  SOULIK.  MTSAT – Floater SW/IR Sat Image – NOAA/SSD – FIRE-EARTH Enhancement – Jul 12, 2013 @ 01:32UTC

Typhoon SOULIK projected path superimposed on a sea surface temperature map. Image credit: CIMSS

High Probability of Landslides

Taiwan authorities have warned about potential disaster in the areas most prone to landslides.

“The central region of Taiwan has experienced two earthquakes with magnitude six or above on 27 March and 2 June, loose soil after seismic activities are potential disaster areas under heavy rainfall,” they warned in a statement.

Related Links

• SOULIK Continues to Gain Mass July 11, 2013
• Typhoon SOULIK Targets Taipei, Taiwan July 10, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

SOULIK Continues to Gain Mass

Gigantic Typhoon SOULIK growing bigger, slower

Typhoon Stats as of 00:32UTC on July 11, 2013

• Approximate position: 22.5ºN, 130.6ºE
• Movement: 280 degrees @ 12 NMPH  (24 km/h)
• Max. Sustained Winds: 120  NMPH (222 km/h)
• Max. Wind Gusts: 145 NMPH (270 km/h)

Tropical Cyclone SOULIK continues moving WNW in Northwest Pacific – IR satellite image with the typhoon’s projected path. Image Credit: CIMSS

Ty SOULIK  in Northwest Pacific – IR satellite image (NHC Enhancement). Image Credit: CIMSS

Related Links

• Typhoon SOULIK Targets Taipei, Taiwan July 10, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Typhoon SOULIK Targets Taipei, Taiwan

SOULIK Intensifies to a powerful Cat 4 storm, heading toward Taipei, N. Taiwan

Dangerous SOULIK powers on with sustained winds of 232 km/h.

FIRE-EARTH models show SOULIK could intensify to a SUPER Typhoon with sustained winds of >250 km/h with a probability of about 64% .

Typhoon Stats as of 10:00UTC on July 10, 2013

• Approximate position: 21.1ºN, 135.8ºE
• Movement: 290 degrees @ 13 NMPH  (24 km/h)
• Max. Sustained Winds: 125  NMPH (232 km/h)
• Max. Wind Gusts: 150 NMPH (278 km/h)

Tropical Cyclone SOULIK in Northwest Pacific – IR satellite image with the typhoon’s projected path. Image Credit: CIMSS

Symmetrically perfect Typhoon SOULIK – VIS/IR satellite image. Image Credit: CIMSS

Related Links

• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Santa Ana winds destroy or damage hundreds of buildings

L.A. County declares state of emergency due to destructive Santa Ana windstorm

Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency due to the destructive Santa Ana winds, following emergency declarations by Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Temple City, San Marino and Glendora.

Disaster Calendar 2011 – December 2

[December 2, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,566 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles County has declared a state of emergency due to the destructive Santa Ana windstorm.
• The declaration came after Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Temple City, San Marino and Glendora declared their own emergencies, a report said.
• In Pasadena, dozens of buildings have been destroyed (red-tagged by fire department) and many more damaged (yellow-tagged), while others await damage assessment.
• Thousands of trees, some century-old, and utility poles were uprooted or damaged.
• Winds of more than 80 mph (130kph, the equivalent of a category one hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale) have knocked out electricity to about half a million homes throughout SoCal, also causing road delays and forcing dozens of flights to LAX to be diverted.
• Hundreds of people have sought shelter in Pasadena.
• “An American Red Cross shelter at Robinson Park in Pasadena housed about 60 displaced people bused in early Thursday from an apartment building that flooded after a tree toppled by the high winds crashed through the roof, breaking a water main,” said a report.

Sawyer Nelson, 8, checks out an uprooted tree in Sierra Madre. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

• California, USA. Six California counties (combined population ~ 3.7 million) have been declared  agricultural disaster areas because of losses caused by the combined effects of unseasonably cool spring weather, a freeze, hail, below normal summer temperatures and unseasonable rainfall that occurred from April 7 to Sept. 30, 2011, USDA reported.
• Solano County was designated as primary disaster area.
• Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Sonoma and Yolo counties were declared disaster areas because they’re contiguous.
• Soon we’d be blaming the ‘unseasonable weather,’ ‘abnormal temperatures’ and ‘unreasonable rainfall’

Related Links

• Major Geological Events Forecast for Western U-S
• WARNING: Many parts of the United States could become ‘unrecognizable’ due to extreme climatic, geophysical and geological episodes over the next 18 months: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities  (EDRO Forecast)
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)

• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Super Typhoon SONGDA

SONGDA: MEGA RAINMAKER

Western Pacific Typhoon Season Starts with a Big Bang

SUPER TYPHOON SONGDA – Vis/IR Image at 12:32UTC May 26, 2011.  Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Super Typhoon SONGDA – MTSAT IR Image at 12:32UTC May 26, 2011. Click Image to enlarge.

Super Typhoon SONGDA – MTSAT enhanced IR Image at 13:32UTC May 26, 2011. Click Image to enlarge.

SONGDA Projected Track. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

WARNING POSITION:

• Date and Time   May 26, 2011 at 14:00UTC
• Position:  Near 16.3N 125.1E
• Movement over the past 6 hours:  315 degrees
• Forward Speed: 15km/hr (8 KTS)

Current Wind Distribution:

• Max sustained winds: ~ 270 km/hr (145 KTS) – [Cat 5 storm on FEWW New Hurricane Scale]
• Max wind gusts: 325 km/hr (175 KT)
• Source: FIRE-EARTH estimates based on data provided by JTWC and others.

Related Links

• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

updated on  May 26, 2011 at 14:00UTC

CONSON Restrengthens to Typhoon Force

CONSON Stirs South China Sea with 150-km Winds

The Typhoon’s 2nd Attack Brings Lots More Rain and Thunderstorms

CONSON could strengthen to a Cat 2B hurricane with sustained winds of up to 170 km/hr before making its next landfall.

Typhoon CONSON – VIS/IR Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

CONSON Summary at 6:00UTC – July 16, 2010 [Estimated by Fire-Earth]

• Location: Near 17.3N, 109.8E
• Position: About 150 km SE of Hainan
• Max Sustained Winds: 150 km/hr
• Wind Gusts: 185 km/hr
• Movement: West (270 degrees) at 16 km/hr
• Max Wave Heights: 6m (18 feet)

CONSON Projected Path

Typhoon CONSON – IR satellite image with forecast path superimposed. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Typhoon CONSON – IR (NHC Enhancement) Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• Tropical Storm Conson Moves West
• Typhoon CONSON Strikes The Philippines
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

ALEX Making Landfall as Cat 3C Hurricane

ALEX Has Strengthened to a Cat 3C Hurricane, Making Landfall in NE Mexico

Hurricane ALEX – IR Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

HURRICANE ALEX — Summary of Status At 01:00UTC – July 1, 2010
[Source: Fire-Earth Estimate]

• Time- Date: 01:00UTC July 1, 2010
• Location: 24.5N, 98.1W
• Distances
  • About 80km (50 miles) NE OF LA PESCA, Mexico
  • About 160km (100 miles) SE of Brownsville, Texas

• Max. Sustained Winds 204km/hr (127 MPH)
• Currently Movement: W  (270) at 19km/hr (12 MPH)

Hurricane Warning [Source: NHC]

• Coast of Texas south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande
• Coast of Mexico from the mouth of the Rio Grande to La Cruz

Tropical Storm Warning

• Coast of Texas from Baffin Bay to Port O’connor
• Coast of Mexico south of La Cruz to Cabo Rojo

Satellite Imagery:

Satellite Imagery (GOES 12 Floater/NOAA/SSD)

• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Water Vapor
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Visible
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Infrared

• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Infrared
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Water Vapor
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Visible
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Visible (Colorized)
• Gulf of Mexico – Infrared
• Gulf of Mexico – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)
• Gulf of Mexico – Water Vapor
• Gulf of Mexico – Visible
• Gulf of Mexico – Visible (Colorized)

Loops/ Satellite Animations (GOES 12; NOAA/SSD)

• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Water Vapor
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Visible
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Infrared

Satellite Images Taken by MODIS

Hurricane Alex as it hovered over the western Gulf of Mexico. Image taken by MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite at 12:10 p.m. Central Daylight Time on June 30, 2010. Source: NASA E/O. Download large image (6 MB, JPEG)

Hurricane Alex covering the Gulf of Mexico, from the Yucatán Peninsula to the Louisiana coast. Natural-color image taken  by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite on June 29, 2010. Source: NASA E/O. Download large image (5 MB, JPEG)

Related Links:

• Alex Strengthens to Hurricane Force
• ALEX Standing Still in Southern Gulf of Mexico, Strengthening to a Hurricane
• TD ALEX – UPDATE June 28
• Tropical Storm Alex Forms Near BELIZE
• Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster: Headline News

• Tropical Depression One: Forecast
• Tropical Wave Continues to Wreak Havoc Across Caribbean

Alex Strengthens to Hurricane Force

Storm Alex strengthens to a category 1A hurricane with sustained winds of about 120km/hr

ALEX, the first hurricane of 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season, is also the first June hurricane in 15 years.

Hurricane ALEX – IR Satellite Image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge

Hurricane ALEX – VIS/IR Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge

HURRICANE ALEX — Summary of Status At 02:00UTC – June 30   [Fire-Earth Estimate]

• LOCATION: 23.3N, 94.6W
• Distances
  • About 340km (210 miles) SE OF LA PESCA, Mexico
  • About 420km (260 miles) SE of Brownsville, Texas
• Max. Sustained Winds 120km/hr (75MPH)  —
• Currently Movement: WNW  (286) at 19km/hr (12 MPH)
• Min Central Pressure 978 MB (28.88 inches)

Satellite Imagery:

Satellite Imagery (GOES 12 Floater/NOAA/SSD)

• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Water Vapor
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Visible
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Infrared

• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Infrared
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Water Vapor
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Visible
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean – Visible (Colorized)
• Gulf of Mexico – Infrared
• Gulf of Mexico – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)
• Gulf of Mexico – Water Vapor
• Gulf of Mexico – Visible
• Gulf of Mexico – Visible (Colorized)

Loops/ Satellite Animations (GOES 12; NOAA/SSD)

• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Water Vapor
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Visible
• Tropical Atlantic Hurricane Sector – Infrared

Related Links:

• ALEX Standing Still in Southern Gulf of Mexico, Strengthening to a Hurricane
• TD ALEX – UPDATE June 28
• Tropical Storm Alex Forms Near BELIZE
• Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster: Headline News
• Tropical Depression One: Forecast
• Tropical Depression One: Forecast
• Tropical Wave Continues to Wreak Havoc Across Caribbean

Rick Strengthens to a Major Hurricane

For UPDATES see links in comments section

Rick Strengthened to an Extremely Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane

At 10:15 UTC the center of hurricane Rick was near latitude 14.0°N, longitude 102.3°W,  or about

• 40 km southwest of Acapulco, Mexico
• 595 km south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico

Rick is Now a Cat 4A Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale ( Cat. four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale). GOES Satellite Image. Rainbow Enhancement – Still Frame. Date and time as inset. Click image to enlarge and update.

Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Track Forecast Cone

Rick’s 5-day Track Forecast. Click Image to enlarge and update.

Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed Probabilities – 120 Hours

Hurricane Rick Wind Speed Probabilities – 120 Hours

Direction and Speed

• Rick is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 19 km/hr
• Expected to stay on its forecast track for the next 48 hours
• Will remain off-shore, moving parallel to the southern coast of Mexico

Wind Speed

• Maximum sustained winds: 215

Category

Rick is now an extremely dangerous category 4A on FEWW New Hurricane Scale ( Cat. four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale).

Further Strengthening Forecast:

• Rick will Most probably strengthen to a category five hurricane in the next 12 – 36 hours.

Wind Forces and Pressure

• Hurricane force winds: Extend 55 km
• Tropical storm force winds: Extend 165 km from the center
• Minimum central pressure: 71.09mm Hg (948 mb).

Rain Potential

• Rick’s outer rainbands will continue to affect the Southern coast of Mexico, NHC said.

FEWW Comment:

Hurricane Rick looks organized, symmetrical and extremely dangerous. Warm coastal waters off the Mexican coast will most likely help Rick to become a Category 5 hurricane. Rick could devastate Baja and coastal areas of western Mexico.

As Typhoon LUPIT (currently located near Philippines) and Hurricane Rick grow stronger,  the question on many people’s mind must now be whether the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season will end with  a whimper, or the “mother of all hurricanes” could still form there …

Other Satellite Images

GOES Satellite: East Pacific :  Hurricane Rick(EP20)

• Visible  Image – Java – Flash
• IR AVN  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Shortwave  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Dvorak*  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Unenhanced  Image – Java – Flash
• IR JSL  Image – Java – Flash
• IR RGB  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Funktop  Image – Java – Flash
• IR Rainbow  Image – Java – Flash
• Water Vapor  Image – Java – Flash

Additional Images:

• FEWW Satellite Imagery List