Hurricanes Irwin and Jova moving in Eastern Pacific, heading toward Mexico
Irwin became the eighth hurricane of the eastern pacific season early Friday morning, and could be quickly followed by Jova on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
| …IRWIN MOVING SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD…LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS… (National Hurricane Center)
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| 8:00 PM PDT Fri Oct 7 Location: 14.1°N 121.3°W Max sustained: 90 mph Moving: WNW at 5 mph Min pressure: 980 mb |
Public Advisory #8 800 PM PDT |
Forecast/ Advisory #8 0300 UTC |
Forecast Discussion #8 800 PM PDT |
Wind Speed Probabilities #8 0300 UTC |
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Tropical Storm Jova is presently located 520 miles (835 kilometres) southwest of Manzanillo in southwest Mexico and is tracking west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). Jova, which packed maximum sustained winds of 50mph (85 km/h) on Friday morning, is forecast to make landfall along Mexico’s west coast as early as Sunday night.
| …JOVA NOW MOVING NORTHWARD…EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE OVER THE WEEKEND… (National Hurricane Center)
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| 8:00 PM PDT Fri Oct 7 Location: 15.3°N 110.6°W Max sustained: 65 mph Moving: N at 8 mph Min pressure: 997 mb |
Public Advisory #9 800 PM PDT |
Forecast/ Advisory #9 0300 UTC |
Forecast Discussion #9 800 PM PDT |
Wind Speed Probabilities #9 0300 UTC |
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Hurricane Irwin, meanwhile, is expected to track eastward through the weekend and early next week before making landfall in southwest Mexico, and possibly Guatemala, on Wednesday or Thursday next week.
At 2 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. GMT) on Friday Tropical Storm Irwin’s maximum sustained winds had grown to 40 mph, after forming as a depression just 5 hours before. Irwin was located about 910 miles (1460 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California near 13.7 north and 119.8 west. It was moving west-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h).
The National Hurricane Center says it expects Irwin to turn toward the northwest and north-northwest with a significant decrease in forward speed Friday and overnight, followed by a turn toward the east on Saturday. Irwin is expected to strengthen further in the next 48 hours.
Irwin and Jova are the eight and ninth named storms of the 2011 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, following major Hurricane Hilary which formed in late September.
An average Eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 to 16 named storms, with eight to nine becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30, with peak activity from July through September.
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Infrared (GOES 11; NOAA)
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Water Vapor (GOES 11; NOAA)
- Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Visible (GOES 11; NOAA)
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