Dangerous Pacific Hurricane

I usually don’t blog about storms in the Eastern Pacific basin, but tonight’s situation along Mexico’s Pacific coast is potentially devastating. Hurricane Jimena, located as of 8pm PDT (11pm ET) 245 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, MX, is an extremely dangerous category four hurricane with winds of 155 mph. This is just 1 mph shy of category 5 strength. Winds of these magnitudes can cause extreme to catastrophic damage. The hurricane is on a collision course with southern Baja California and will make landfall very near Cabo San Lucas late Tuesday. It appears that the hurricane may weaken a bit before then, but it is expected to remain a powerhouse through landfall. A hurricane warning has been issued along Baja’s southern coastline. Those persons in the hurricane warning have less than 24 hours to take all precautions to protect their life and property. The tropical storm force winds will begin affecting the area early Tuesday, with conditions deteriorating further throughout the day.

Pleasant Week

Labor Day has always been seen as the “unofficial end of Summer,” but with a week to go until Labor Day, this week will surely seem like fall across the Mahoning Valley. Sunday’s highs only reached 63 degrees, 14 degrees below the normal 77 for the day. Monday will, however, be just spectacular as highs will be around 70 degrees. Most of the week will be very nice and cool – in the 70s. This will be especially nice for those of you going to the Canfield Fair.

Scattered Storms

After our round of showers this morning, the stage has been set for a few isolated thunderstorms to develop over the area this afternoon. While these storms will be very hit-and-miss, the storms that do develop have the potential to have some gusty winds and small hail with them. Just keep an eye to the sky should one of these storms pop up in your area. Additional showers will be possible through the overnight hours too. Today’s highs will be around 75 degrees. For your Saturday, highs will be in the lower 70s with another chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Have a good weekend!!!

Weak Danny

Tropical Storm Danny has weakened over the past 24 hours as westerly wind shear has put a halt on thunderstorm activity from flaring up near the center of the storm. Winds have decreased in the storm to 40 mph, and very little if any strengthening is expected to occur before the storm moves into the northern Atlantic over the next 48 hours. There is a tropical storm watch for the North Carolina coast from Duck southward to Cape Lookout. An additional tropical storm watch may be issued for New England coastline tonight if it appears that tropical storm force winds could impact the coastline.

Danny the one to Watch

After getting rid of Bill, Danny is the next game in town. Danny formed earlier today and as of 11pm, had winds of 50 mph and was located about 675 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, NC. Danny will have the opportunity to strengthen to a minimal hurricane over the next 72 hrs as it progresses towards the east coast. However, it appears Danny will turn just before making a landfall, and will just brush the coast. Danny could get very close to Cape Cod late Friday into Saturday. Keep it here for the latest.

Hot Again

After a perfect day on Monday to start off classes at YSU, Tuesday will be a lot hotter. We will see mostly sunny skies and temperatures topping out in the middle 80s. However, as we head toward the end of the week, below normal temperatures are once again forecast as we see highs on Thursday and Friday in the mid 70s. Enjoy another day of summer out there Tuesday if you can.

Watching 2 Spots in the Atlantic

Hurricane Bill is long gone into the northern Atlantic, heading towards Europe tonight as an extra-tropical gale storm. Now that Bill has gone, our attention focuses on two areas of concern in the Atlantic basin. The one is located just to the northeast of Puerto Rico and the US/British Virgin Islands. It is producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms, but is also co-located with an upper-level low pressure system. As long as these two systems are together, the tropical wave will have no chance to develop because the upper level low will create wind shear over the wave, not allowing a complete low pressure circulation to develop into a tropical cyclone. However, most computer model guidance shows the upper low moving away from the wave and allowing it to develop. We will monitor it’s progress over the next few days. A second area is a low pressure system currently still over the African continent. Once it emerges into the open Atlantic, it has a chance to become a tropical depression.

Bill Brushing the Coast

Hurricane Bill (85mph) passed between the island of Bermuda and the US East Coast this afternoon, and is currently racing towards Newfoundland. Bill will be close enough to Cape Cod Massechusettes overnight that a tropical storm warning has been issued for portions of New England’s coastline. The main threat that Bill poses for the eastern seaboard is very dangerous water conditions. If you will be on the beach, be careful for rip currents and big waves.

Bill Strengthening

Hurricane Bill has become a category two hurricane and as of 11am, winds were around 105 mph. The storm is moving off to the west-northwest and will be moving just to the north of Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles as we head into later Wednesday and into Thursday. Thereafter, it appears that Bill will move more towards the northwest and north around a high pressure system. This should allow Bill to move east of the US and west of Bermuda. However, both areas need to monitor Bill’s progress, as increased surf is expected. Bill is a large hurricane in terms of size, so large waves are expected well away from the storm.

Only Bill

After a busy weekend in the tropics, Claudette has moved inland over the Southeast US, and Ana has degenerated into just a tropical wave; so Hurricane Bill is the only game in town across the Atlantic basin. Hurricane Bill is, as of 5pm, a category one hurricane with winds of 90 mph. Bill is forecast to strengthen considerably over the next few days and become a major hurricane (winds 111 mph +). Currently located about 975 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, Bill will be moving towards the west-northwest over the next few days and eventually turn a little more northwest. Where this turn takes place will determine who, if any land masses, will be in the path of this storm. Keep it here for the latest on Bill over the course of the week.