BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Rick Advisory Number 4
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP172021
400 AM CDT Sat Oct 23 2021
...RICK RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING...
...HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES EXTENDED EASTWARD ALONG THE
COAST OF SOUTHERN MEXICO...
SUMMARY OF 400 AM CDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...13.9N 101.4W
ABOUT 265 MI...425 KM S OF ZIHUATANEJO MEXICO
ABOUT 400 MI...645 KM SSE OF MANZANILLO MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...993 MB...29.33 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of Mexico has extended the Hurricane Watch eastward
to Tecpan de Galeana and has also extended the Tropical Storm
Watch eastward to Acapulco.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Tecpan de Galeana to Punta San Telmo
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* East of Tecpan de Galeana to Acapulco
* West of Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
A Hurricane Warning and a Tropical Storm Warning will likely be
required for portions of the coast of Mexico later this morning.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 AM CDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rick was
located near latitude 13.9 North, longitude 101.4 West. Rick is
moving toward the north-northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A
north-northwestward to northward motion is expected over the next
couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Rick will
approach the coast of Mexico on Sunday and Sunday night.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph (110
km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast through
Sunday. Rick is expected to become a hurricane today, and it
is forecast to become a major hurricane on Sunday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km)
from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb (29.33 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch
area by late Sunday, with tropical storm conditions possible by
Sunday afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the
Tropical Storm Watch areas by Sunday afternoon.
STORM SURGE: A storm surge is expected to produce significant
coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds near and to the east of
where the center of Rick makes landfall in southwestern Mexico.
Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.
RAINFALL: Rick is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain with
isolated storm total amounts of 15 inches across coastal sections of
the Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacan from tonight through
Tuesday. This heavy rainfall will likely produce flash flooding and
mudslides.
SURF: Swells generated by Rick will begin to affect portions of the
southwestern coast of Mexico later today. These swells are likely
to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please
consult products from your local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 700 AM CDT.
Next complete advisory at 1000 AM CDT.
$$
Forecaster Brown
Tropical Storm Rick Discussion Number 4
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP172021
400 AM CDT Sat Oct 23 2021
The satellite presentation of Rick has continued to improve
overnight. The center is embedded within a fairly symmetric and
expanding central dense overcast, and there is evidence of outer
banding features. There has been no recent microwave imagery
to examine the inner core structure, but given the recent satellite
appearance and the earlier microwave data, it is likely that the
inner core has become better defined. Subjective Dvorak T-numbers
supported an intensity of 55 kt at 0600 UTC, and given the
continued improvement in organization, the advisory intensity has
been set at 60 kt. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is
scheduled to investigate Rick this afternoon and should provide a
better assessment of the storm's strength and structure.
Rick has been intensifying quickly since it developed yesterday
morning, and environmental conditions consisting of very low
vertical wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures, and a moist
low- to mid-level atmosphere are expected to continue to support
rapid strengthening during the next day or so. The SHIPS rapid
intensification index is showing a greater than 90 percent chance
of rapid strengthening over the next 24 hours, and also indicates a
better than 80 percent chance of a 45 kt increase in intensity over
the next 36 hours. Based on this guidance the NHC intensity
forecast calls for rapid strengthening during the next 24 to 36
hours, and the official forecast shows Rick reaching major
hurricane status within 36 hours. This is near the higher end of
the intensity guidance envelope, but is not as high as the HFIP
corrected consensus aid. Increasing shear after that time and the
possibility of an eyewall replacement cycle could cause some
fluctuations in intensity before Rick reaches the coast of Mexico.
After landfall, rapid weakening is expected, and Rick is likely to
dissipate over the mountainous terrain of Mexico in 72 to 96 hours.
Rick has turned north-northwestward or 330/5 kt. A slow
north-northwestward to northward track is expected around the
western side of a mid-level ridge centered of the Caribbean.
Although the guidance agrees on that general steering flow, there
are still significant difference regarding the location and timing
of landfall in southern or southwestern Mexico. The GFS, Canadian,
and HWRF are along the eastern edge of the track model envelope
while the ECMWF, UKMET, and CTCI models are along the western side.
The NHC track forecast has been adjusted slightly east of the
previous advisory but remains close to the various consensus aids.
It should be noted that the global model ensembles suggest a
stronger cyclone is likely to track more eastward. Therefore the
official forecast has been nudged in that direction and it is
possible future eastward adjustments could be required.
Based on the latest forecast, the government of Mexico has extended
both the Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches farther eastward.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings will likely be required for
portions of the watch areas later this morning.
Key Messages:
1. Rick is expected to be at or near major hurricane strength when
it reaches the coast of southern Mexico by Sunday night or Monday,
and life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force
winds are possible within the Hurricane Watch area from Tecpan de
Galeana to Punta San Telmo. There is larger-than-normal
uncertainty in the track forecast of Rick, and the arrival time of
hazardous conditions within the watch area could change
significantly with future forecasts. Residents in this area should
follow any advice given by local officials and check updates
to the forecast.
2. Rick could bring tropical storm conditions to portions of the
southern and southwestern coasts of Mexico as early as Sunday from
east of Tecpan de Galeana to Acapulco, and by Monday morning
from west of Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo, where a Tropical Storm
Watch is in effect.
3. Heavy rains associated with Rick are expected to move into the
Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacan starting tonight, and
could persist through Monday night. This rainfall will likely
produce flash flooding and mudslides.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 23/0900Z 13.9N 101.4W 60 KT 70 MPH
12H 23/1800Z 14.6N 101.8W 75 KT 85 MPH
24H 24/0600Z 15.3N 102.1W 90 KT 105 MPH
36H 24/1800Z 16.0N 102.3W 100 KT 115 MPH
48H 25/0600Z 17.0N 102.7W 100 KT 115 MPH
60H 25/1800Z 18.5N 103.1W 80 KT 90 MPH...INLAND
72H 26/0600Z 20.5N 103.5W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
96H 27/0600Z 25.0N 104.0W 20 KT 25 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND
120H 28/0600Z...DISSIPATED
$$
Forecaster Brown