Welcome to Category 6. This is the collective home for Weather Underground's featured writeups by Dr. Jeff Masters (right), Bob Henson (left), Chris Burt, and other regular contributors.
Hurricane and Tropical Cyclones
Tropical Weather Discussion
000 axpz20 knhc 221501 twdepTropical weather discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 1500 UTC Fri Feb 22 2019Tropical weather discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Equator to 32n, east of 140w. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis.Based on 1200 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 1500 UTC....Intertropical convergence zone/monsoon trough...A surface trough extends from 07n77w to 05n96w. The ITCZ extends from 05n96w to 03n110w. It resumes from 03n122w to 02n140w. Scattered moderate isolated strong showers are noted within 90 nm S of the ITCZ between 97w and 100w. An upper level trough extends across the forecast waters from Southern California SW to near 02n120w. Upper level diffluence ahead of this trough is creating a large area of moderate to isolated strong convection within an area bounded by 03n119w to 15n113w to 15n104w to 02n107w to 03n119w....Discussion...Offshore waters within 250 nm of Mexico...An dissipating cold front extends from the northern Gulf of California to 25n124w. Fresh to strong winds prevail over the offshore waters of Baja California norte as well as the northern Gulf of California. Large NW swell associated with the front is spreading into the waters off Baja California norte, with seas peaking near 14 ft. The fresh to strong winds will diminish to 20 kt or less today. Seas will continue to propagate along the length of the Baja Peninsula while slowly subsiding. By Sat morning, seas 8 ft or greater will cover the offshore waters of Baja California. Seas will then subside below 8 ft sun.Gulf of tehuantepec: the next gap wind event in the Gulf of Tehuantepec is expected to begin sun, with gale conditions possible Sun night.Offshore waters within 250 nm of Central America, Colombia, and within 750 nm of Ecuador...Gulf of papagayo: fresh winds will prevail across the Gulf of papagayo through sun, pulsing to strong tonight and Sat night. Winds will then strengthen Sun night through Tue night.Gulf of panama: gentle to moderate northerly winds are expected across the Gulf of Panama through Mon with seas less than 5 ft. Wind will increase slightly Mon night through Tue night.Remainder of the area...A ridge of high pressure extends across the northern waters. The pressure gradient between the ridge and lower pressure in the vicinity of the ITCZ is supporting moderate to fresh winds N of the ITCZ to around 20n. Seas over this area are in the 7 to 9 ft range. NW swell is propagating across the waters N of 23n E of 132w. The swell will continue to propagate southward, with seas greater than 8 ft covering much of the waters N of 20n and E of 130w by late tonight before starting to subside. Another set of NW swell will propagate into the NW part of the discussion area Tue.$$ Al
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All Atlantic Storms (1851-2019)
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Historical Hurricane Statistics
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- The 12 Major May-June-July Hurricanes
- The 12 Latest-season Major Hurricanes
- The 20 deadliest late-season Atlantic hurricanes
- 2005 Hurricane Season Records
- Hurricane Katrina Information Archive
- Retired Hurricane Names
Articles of Interest
- Hunting Hugo: The Hurricane Hunters' Wildest Ride
- The six hurricane/typhoon hunter missions that never returned to base
- A new world record wind gust: 253 mph in Australia's Tropical Cyclone Olivia
- Wind shear tutorial
- Subtropical storm tutorial
- African dust tutorial
- Gulf of Mexico ocean heat tutorial
- African wave tutorial
- Modiki El Niños and Atlantic hurricane activity
- The case for a new QuikSCAT satellite
- Bill Gates takes on hurricanes
- Is the Atlantic hurricane season getting longer?
- Late-starting hurricane seasons
- Looking back at Hurricane Gustav's record 211 mph wind gust
- Remembering Hurricane Hugo 20 years later
- Haiti's tragic hurricane history
- Global warming and the frequency of intense Atlantic hurricanes: model results
- Complete subject list of Dr. Jeff Masters' blogs on hurricanes