Tropical Storm Agatha Forms in Eastern Pacific

5-Day Forecast Cone for Storm Center (Credit: NOAA NHC)
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First Named Tropical Storm
2010 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season

800 AM PDT SAT MAY 29 2010

...DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS INTO THE FIRST TROPICAL STORM OF THE

SEASON OFF THE COAST OF GUATEMALA...

UPDATE: 200 AM PDT SUN MAY 30 2010

...AGATHA DISSIPATES OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN GUATEMALA...  Unfortunately not before claiming more than 163 lives

NASA Update (6/1):  Agatha Drenches Guatemala and El Salvador, Remnants Now in Caribbean


We began watching this Tropical Storm when NASA's AIRS satellite identified a low pressure area early May 27th and indicated it had the potential of forming into a tropical cyclone. (Potential for First Named Tropical Storm in Pacific). Based on the satellite imagery, it was determined that there was a very good chance the storm would develop further.  Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains were identified in the system.

As of the current  public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami (NHC),  maximum sustained winds are 40 MPH...65 KM/HR and movement is ENE at 5 MPH...7 KM/HR.

Current Watches & Warnings

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... 

THE PACIFIC COASTS OF EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO...ALL OF
GUATEMALA...AND ALL OF EL SALVADOR FROM BOCA DE PIJIJIAPAN MEXICO
SOUTHEASTWARD TO THE EL SALVADOR-HONDURAS BORDER.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

Discussion & Outlook

SUMMARY OF 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...13.1N 93.2W
ABOUT 170 MI...275 KM...WSW OF PUERTO DE SAN JOSE GUATEMALA
ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM...W OF SAN SALVADOR EL SALVADOR
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 60 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...7 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB...29.62 INCHES

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND... 
TROPICAL STORM-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE PACIFIC
COASTS OF GUATEMALA AND SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO LATER TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY MORNING...MAKING OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR
DANGEROUS.

RAINFALL... 
THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN
ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES OVER EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN
MEXICO...GUATEMALA...AND MUCH OF EL SALVADOR...WITH POSSIBLE
ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 30 INCHES THROUGH SUNDAY. THESE RAINS
COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.

STORM SURGE...
A STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT
COASTAL FLOODING NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES
LANDFALL. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE
AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)
Tropical Storm AGATHA	National Hurricane Center
East Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook	National Weather Service
East Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion	Hurricane Preparedness
Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (EPAC)	Real-Time Hurricane Information
Active Storms	NOAA Satellites & Information
NASA: Latest Storm Images	WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
Real-time Monitoring (E. Pacific)	The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Real-time Weather Sites	Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

Cruise Ship Advisories

There are currently no cruise ship advisories related to TS Agatha. 

No ships are in the immediate vicinity of the tropical storm.

Monitor RSS Feeds and the links above on this blog for any significant changes.