Tropical Storm Matthew Prompts Hurricane Warnings

5-Day Forecast Cone for TS Matthew (Credit: NOAA NHC)

Click for Current 5-Day Graphic

Matthew is 13th Named Storm in Atlantic

Heavy Rains & Possible Mudslides

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

UPDATE: 1000 AM CDT SUN SEP 26 2010...

MATTHEW WEAKENS TO A REMNANT LOW BUT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HEAVY
RAINS OVER PORTIONS OF EASTERN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA...

Last NHC advisory issued on LISA, MATTHEW 

There are no tropical cyclones at this time.

NEW ... NHC Live Video Updates
NEW... NHC unveils new Storm Surge web page 

The Atlantic Basin continues to have above normal activity.  Tropical Depression 15 formed in the South-Central Caribbean Sea Thursday, September 23rd prompting watches and warnings for parts of Central America.  The storm has intensified and is predicted to increase in strength in the next 48 hours prompting the governments of Nicaragua and Honduras to post hurricane warnings.  By mid-day Friday, the hurricane warnings were changed to tropical storm warnings.

Matthew went ashore Friday on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast and raced into Honduras heading westward with winds of 45 mph (75 kph) toward Guatemala and Belize.   Thousands of people were evacuated in Honduras and Nicaragua by their respective governments out of fear of flooding and mudslides.  At least five deaths were reported in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and at least seven deaths in Caracas, Venezuela from the tropical storm.   Haiti is still trying to recover from the devastating earthquake earlier this year.   This tropical storm put those people through yet another peril.

 A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY...AND MATTHEW IS EXPECTED TO BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY BY
LATE SUNDAY.

As a service to our readers, we have RSS feeds from the NHC which can provide up to date information about these tropical storms.   We will also monitor the cruise lines for any itinerary changes as a result of the storms.  See below for Travel Advisories for this storm.

Current Watches & Warnings

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
 

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 TO 36
HOURS.  PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED
TO COMPLETION.

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

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

Discussion & Outlook
 

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON MATTHEW.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...SEE STATEMENTS FROM
YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE. 

Tropical Storm MATTHEW Advisory Archive

SUMMARY OF 1000 AM CDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION (26 Sep)

LOCATION...17.4N 92.9W
ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM S OF VILLAHERMOSA MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...25 MPH...35 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB...29.62 INCHES

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 25 MPH...35
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  CONTINUED WEAKENING IS LIKELY AND THE
SYSTEM SHOULD DISSIPATE OVER SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO BY MONDAY NIGHT.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1003 MB...29.62 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

RAINFALL...THE REMNANT LOW OF MATTHEW IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL
RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES FROM FAR SOUTHERN MEXICO INTO
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF 30 INCHES POSSIBLE.  THESE RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE
THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.  THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN
WILL CONTINUE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA EVEN AFTER THE
REMNANT OF MATTHEW DISSIPATES. 

 Cruise Line Advisories

Carnival Cruise Line has modified several cruise schedules. See the following link.

Cruise Itineary Changes Due to Matthew

We will keep the above blog post as current as possible.  Note that since updates can be made at any time,
you can also check the individual cruise line websites for any additional updates.

Carnival Cruise Line :    

MSC CRUISES: 


Norwegian Cruise Line:

Royal Caribbean International:  

Celebrity Cruises: 

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

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Dec 23 MIAMI, FLORIDA	Jan 1 AT SEA Learn about Huatulco’s indigenous culture from an onboard expert.
Dec 26 CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA Shop in the beautifully restored Old Town for a holiday surprise.	Jan 2 HUATULCO, MEXICO Snorkel in sparkling waters, watch cooking demonstrations and enjoy Mexico’s diverse culture.
Dec 27 AT SEA Indulge in a soothing spa treatment aboard the ship.	Jan 3 ACAPULCO, MEXICO Visit the Sea Turtle Rescue Center or swim with dolphins on unforgettable Land Discoveries.
Dec 28 PANAMA CANAL (CRUISING) Enjoy the spectacular vistas as you cruise the locks and waterways of the Panama Canal.	Jan 4 AT SEA Delight in fine cuisine paired with boutique wines, complimentary with lunch and dinner.
Dec 29 AT SEA Enjoy our pool butlers. Need we say more?	Jan 5 CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO Rendezvous at the romantic hidden beach of Playa del Amor.
Dec 30 PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA Marvel at the majesty of Costa Rica’s rain forests.	Jan 6-7 AT SEA Sip champagne at an onboard art auction worthy of your collection.
Dec 31 SAN JUAN DEL SUR, NICARAGUA Ring in the new year with romance on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Granada.	Jan 8 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Tropical Storm Ida Forms in Atlantic

Chart Courtesy of NOAA: 700 PM EST (Ida) Wed Nov 4, 2009 (click for udated chart)

<more details>

Tropical Storm Ida

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Another tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean and is currently east of Nicaragua. Hurricane Watches and Tropical storm watches have been posted. This storm quickly became a hurricane, but fortunately has now weakened. The forecast is for Ida to restrengthen as it continues along its projected path.

As a service to my clients and my blog readers, we'll provided continual updates on tropical storms and any cruise line advisories that are posted. For convenience, RSS feeds are also added so that you can get up-to-date information between posts. <NHC Active Storms>

UPDATE: 1000 PM EST SAT NOV 07 2009... IDA MOVING NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD STILL AS A TROPICAL STORM... IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH... 19 KM/HR... AND THIS GENERAL HEADING WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK... IDA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE YUCATAN CHANNEL AND INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO ON SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IDA IS FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT OR ON SUNDAY.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS...

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM TULUM TO CABO CATOCHE.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA... GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM PUNTA ALLEN NORTHWARD TO SAN FELIPE... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLE OF YOUTH.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA... GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

This post will track Tropical Storm Ida until it is no longer tracked by the NHC.

Local Weather Statements

<more details> <click for updated chart>

<NWS - Local Weather>

<NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm

Updates / Itinerary Changes

The following are links to the most recent advisory posted by the respective cruise line. As we learn of changes, this post will be updated.
This storm isn't as predictable as others so far this hurricane season. As you can see from the real-time tracking link below, there are a number of ships in the area that could be affected by Ida depending on the track it takes over the next few days.

<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

PRINCESS CRUISES: Crown Princess (Nov 6, 2009)
Crown Princess will be rearranging the port calls on its November 7 itinerary to avoid Tropical Storm Ida. The ship will depart Fort Lauderdale as scheduled, and the new cruise itinerary will be as follows: Princess Cays; sea day; Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; sea day; return to Fort Lauderdale.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:

<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely cancelled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.

Continue to watch this post, I will provide updates as conditions change. If you are on a cruise this week in the area, be sure to monitor the storm closely.