Hurricane “Andres” briefly reached category 4, far off Mexico’s Pacific coast
Tropical Storm "Andres" formed on May 28, 2015 far off the Pacific coast of Mexico and became the first named storm of the 2015 eastern Pacific hurricane season. Andres was heading WNW (away from the coastline) and on June 1 it briefly reached category 4 (of 5) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
At 03:00 UTC on June 2, the system was located 1 390 km (863 miles) WSW of the southern tip of Baja California. It had maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) which made it a category 3 hurricane. Minimum central pressure at the time was 960 hPa.
There are no coastal watches or warning in effect, NWS NHC said.
Andres is moving toward the WNW near 13 km/h (8 mph), and a turn toward the northwest and north is expected over the next couple of days.
Hurricane "Andres" forecast track by CIMSS – 05:30 UTC on June 2, 2015.
Continued weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Andres is expected to become a tropical storm by Wednesday, June 3.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 55 km (35 miles) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 240 km (150 miles).
Swells generated by Andres are affecting portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, NHC warned.
Hurricane "Andres" on June 1, 2015. Image credit: NASA Terra/MODIS.
Meanwhile and much closer to the Mexican coast, a second named storm of the 2015 eastern Pacific hurricane season formed and was named Blanca.
At 03:00 UTC on June 2, Tropical Storm "Blanca" was a stationary system located about 560 km (350 miles) SSW of Zihuatanejo and about 654 km (400 miles) S of Manzanillo, Mexico.
Its maximum sustained winds at the time were 85 km/h (50 mph). Minimum central pressure was 1 001 hPa.
There are no coastal watches or warnings currently in effect, NHC said.
Only a slow and erratic motion is expected for the next day or two followed by rapid strengthening. Blanca is forecast to become a major hurricane by late Wednesday/early Thursday (June 3/4).
Satellite animations "Andres"
- Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Enhanced Infrared (GOES 15; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; CIMSS)
- Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; CIMSS)
- East Pacific Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- East Pacific (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- East Pacific Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- East Pacific Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
- East Pacific Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
Featured image: Hurricane "Andres" forecast track by UW-CIMSS – 06:30 UTC on June 2, 2015.
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