Tropical update 7-3-04....

[WXBUFFJIM]

On this July 3rd, 2004, we have a few areas of interests in the tropics. The first is a tropical depression in the eastern Pacific, which is not expected to strengthen more than it is right now. Tropical Storm Tingting after dropping 2 feet of rain on Guam last week is now north of Iwo Jima and moving away from the Japanese Islands. Meanwhile Tropical Storm Mindulle is weakening, but still producing devastating rains on parts of Taiwan. Early estimates show 8-10 million dollars of damage has been done already in Taiwan alone. This is only preliminary due to rainfall induced flooding. That figure will likely go up.

Taking a quick look at Mindulle and Tingting shows a weakening trend existing with both systems. Maximum sustained winds are up to 50 mph with Tingting and 40 mph with Mindulle. Tingting is centered at around latitude 34.1 north, longitude 151.5 east. Movement is toward the northeast at 16 knots. Meanwhile Mindulle has been centered based on satellite near latitude 28.4 north, longitude 121.7 east. Movement is north northeast at 8 mph. Both systems are weakening.

Meanwhile in the eastern Pacific, a tropical depression has formed over the past few days and shows no more signs of strengthening as southwesterly upper level shear is occuring. Thus expect a decrease in intensity with this tropical system.

Meanwhile the Atlantic is quiet this morning except of a few waves beginning to track off the west coast of Africa. The later we go through the month of July, the more favored the tropical Atlantic will be for tropical development. The rest of the Atlantic Basin and GOM is quiet on this Fourth of July weekend.

You all make it a safe holiday weekend and remember to have a destinated driver if you do decide to drink this holiday weekend.

Jim