11 am update on Kate, Larry, and Nora

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good morning. 3 tropical systems with 3 names in the eastern Pacific and the Atlantic Basin. Larry continues to churn as a tropical storm with 50 mph winds in the Bay Of Campeche. Hurricane Kate is no threat to land across the east central subtropical Atlantic with 85 mph winds. Kate is expected to strengthen to category 2 status over the next day or so. Meanwhile tropical storm Nora continues to churn in the eastern Pacific and was named early this morning. Maximum sustained winds with Nora are now up to 40 mph with higher gusts.

Detailing it further, tropical storm Larry. At 11 AM EDT, the center of tropical storm Larry was located about 300 miles south southeast of Tampico, Mexico or at latitude 21.0 north, longitude 93.5 west.

Movement has been stationary for the past few days and nearly stationary motion is expected for the next 24 hours. Little overall motion is expected through at least 72 hours. However some slight changes in position are possible if the center reforms given how poorly defined it is at this time.

Larry has maximum sustained winds of nearly 50 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hour period.

Reports from oil rigs indicate that tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 145 miles from the center. Minimum central pressure is 1003 mb or 29.62 inches. Tropical storm watches maybe needed along poritons of the Gulf Coast of Mexico later today or tonight. The main effects from Larry will be heavy rains over portions of the adjacent coast of Mexico and gusty winds will continue, especially over Oil Rigs across the Bay Of Campeche.

Another indirect affect this storm is having is the large waves and coastal flooding along the south Texas coast. Cameron County Park rangers reported significantly high water and rough surf on south Padre Island last night and this trend will likely continue through the day today. A coastal flood warning remains in effect from Baffin, TX down to the mouth of Rio Grande River in Texas. A coastal flood warning means that coastal flooding is immient or is already occurring. In addition heavy surf is expected and persons in this area are urged to stay off the water until winds and seas subside!! This coastal flood warning is in effect through the day today. Keep an eye on that....

Meanwhile Hurricane Kate continues moving west southwestward across the east central subtropical Atlantic. At 11 AM EDT, the center of Hurricane Kate was located near latitude 30.0 north, ongitude 44.1 west or about 1225 miles east southeast of Bermuda.

Kate was moving towards the west southwest at 9 mph. A general movement toward the west will begin to take place during the next 24 hours. Then Kate will get shoved northwest and then northward courtesy of a trough moving eastward through the North Atlantic. Thus Bermuda and the Canadian Maritimes are expected to be spared from Kate.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Satellite imaginary suggests a well defined a eye has formed with Hurricane Kate and additional strengthening is forecast during the nxt 24 hours. Kate could become a category 2 hurricane during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Minimum central pressure is now 979 mb or 28.91 inches.

Elsewhere in the tropics, thunderstorms are continuing east of the Lesser Antillies showing no signs of tropical development. This system is badly sheared and strong upper winds from the southwest will preclude any tropical development over the Caribbean or the tropical Atlantic east of the Lesser Antillies.

In the eastern Pacific, Nora is a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Some strengthening is expected with Nora. However Nora is small and is only expected to be a minimal hurricane or strong tropical storm several hundred miles southwest of Baja. This type of system will normally result in little in the way of wave action for southern California. Sorry surfers. Usually a stronger and larger system will cause big waves in southern Cal. More updates on the entire tropics later today.

Good afternoon.
Jim

[JCT777]

Great update, Jim. Glad you are staying on top of these systems!