Tropical Storm “Odile” strengthening off the Pacific coast of Mexico

tropical-storm-odile-strengthening-off-the-pacific-coast-of-mexico

The fifteenth tropical disturbance developed on September 10, 2014 in Eastern Pacific Ocean and shortly afterward, it strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Odile. 

Satellite imagery show that Odile has a large area of heavy thunderstorms that are slowly organizing, but the heavy rains of the storm are remaining just offshore of the Pacific coast of Mexico, off areas recently affected by Hurricane Norbert.

An infrared image on September 11, 2014 at 08:19 UTC from the VIIRS instrument aboard NOAA-NASA's Suomi NPP satellite shows strong thunderstorms (yellow) with very cold cloud tops in Tropical Storm Odile. (Credit: NRL/NOAA/NASA)

Odile is expected to create swells, rip currents and rough surf along the southwestern coast of Mexico over the next day or two. Tropical storm watch was issued early on September 11 from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo, Mexico. 

Mexican states of Colima, western Jalisco and southern Nayarit expect torrential rain. Heavy rain threatens to trigger flooding and mudslides from Manzanillo to Puerto Vallarta, coastal cities and the mountains just inland. Odile will affect the southern tip of Baja California with flooding rain and damaging winds.

GOES-West IR satellite image taken at 17:30 UTC on September 11, 2014 (Credit: NOAA/UW-CIMSS)

NHC 5-day forecast track and tropical storm force wind speed probabilities map (Credit: NOAA/NHC)

Wind patterns will change in the next day allowing Odile to strengthen. Odile may become a major hurricane by September 15, 2014. It is expected to reach Category 2 status.

NHC forecasters call for a slow westward drift or erratic motion through September 12, 2014. Odile will dissipate in the cooler waters well off the coast of Baja California next week.

GOES-West IR satellite image taken at 16:45 UTC on September 11, 2014. (Credit: NOAA/UW-CIMSS)

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 16-E has developed in the eastern Pacific.

Satellite animations

TS Odile forecast track models (Credit: Spaghetti/UWM)

Featured image: Tropical Depression 15E developing in Eastern Pacific late on September 9, 2014 seen from ISS (Credit: ISS/Reid Wiseman)

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