Tropical Storm Gamma Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL252020
1200 PM CDT Sat Oct 03 2020
...GAMMA MAKES LANDFALL NEAR TULUM, MEXICO...
Surface observations and satellite images indicate that the center
of Tropical Storm Gamma made landfall in the northeast Yucatan
Peninsula near Tulum, Mexico, around 1145 AM CDT. The storm was
very close to hurricane strength at landfall, with maximum
sustained winds near 70 MPH (110 MPH) with higher gusts.
A weather station at Xel-Ha Park, along the Yucatan coast just
north of Tulum, reported a sustained wind of 55 mph (89 km/h) and a
gust to 68 mph (109 km/h) within the past hour.
SUMMARY OF 1200 PM CDT...1700 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...20.2N 87.5W
ABOUT 0 MI...0 KM N OF TULUM MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES
Tropical Storm Gamma Discussion Number 5
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL252020
1000 AM CDT Sat Oct 03 2020
Observations from both the Air Force and NOAA Hurricane Hunters
indicate that Gamma has continued to strengthen this morning. The
cloud pattern has continued to become better organized, with an eye
trying to become evident on high-resolution satellite images from
the GOES-16 mesoscale sectors. Flight-level and SFMR-observed
surface winds from the aircraft support an intensity of 60 kt, and
the storm could strengthen a little more as long as the center
remains over water. Since Gamma will be near or at hurricane
intensity when it makes landfall later today, the government of
Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for a portion of the
northeastern Yucatan Peninsula. Gamma should weaken some while it
moves over land tonight. Some re-intensification is likely after
the center moves into the southern Gulf of Mexico. However, the
numerical guidance does not show much strengthening during the next
few days, possibly due to the influence of drier air and/or the
interaction with another area of low pressure to the east of Gamma.
The official intensity forecast is near or above the model
consensus.
Gamma continues northwestward at near 8 kt. The cyclone is
expected to turn north-northwestward and move through a break in
the subtropical ridge through 36 hours or so. Thereafter, a trough
to the north moves eastward, bypassing Gamma, and later in the
forecast period a ridge builds weakly over the Gulf of Mexico.
This should cause the cyclone to turn toward the west and
southwest. The official track forecast is close to the multi-model
consensus, TVCN.
Although Gamma has strengthened, its biggest threat continues to be
torrential rains, flooding, and mudslides especially near and over
mountainous terrain.
KEY MESSAGES:
1. Gamma is expected to produce heavy rainfall for several
days over portions of southeastern Mexico, the Yucatan
Peninsula, Central America, and far western Cuba. This
rainfall could result in life-threatening flash flooding
and mudslides, particularly in the mountainous regions of
southeastern Mexico and Central America.
2. Gamma is very near hurricane strength and will be near or at
hurricane intensity when the center moves inland over the Yucatan
Peninsula later today. A Hurricane Warning is now in effect
for portions of the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, where
tropical storm conditions are already occurring. Tropical storm
conditions are expected along the north coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula within the Tropical Storm Warning area later today
and on Sunday.
BULLETINTropical Depression Twenty-Five Advisory Number 1
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL252020
1100 AM EDT Fri Oct 02 2020
...TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OVER THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN...
...WARNINGS AND WATCHES ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA...
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...18.1N 84.7W
ABOUT 220 MI...355 KM SE OF COZUMEL MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for
the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Punta Herrero to Cabo Catoche,
and a Tropical Storm Watch south of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa
Maya and west of Cabo Catoche to Dzilam.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Punta Herrero to Cabo Catoche
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* South of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa Maya
* West of Cabo Catoche to Dzilam
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, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression
Twenty-Five was located near latitude 18.1 North, longitude 84.7
West. The depression is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15
km/h), and a gradual turn toward the north-northwest with a
decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of
days. On the forecast track, the center of the tropical cyclone
should be near the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts.
Some strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to
become a tropical storm by Saturday morning.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for the depression can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT5 and WMO header WTNT45 KNHC.
RAINFALL: The depression is expected to produce rainfall of 4 to 8
inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches in portions of the
Yucatan Peninsula and far western Cuba. A separate area of
significant rain is expected to develop well away from the center in
the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco, and northern Chiapas, with
rainfall of 8 to 12 inches and isolated maximum amounts of 20
inches. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flash floods and
mudslides.
Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with maximum amounts of 5 inches is
expected in the Bay Islands of Honduras.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical
Storm Warning area by early Saturday, and are possible within the
Tropical Storm Watch area on Saturday and Sunday.
NEXT ADVISORY
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Next intermediate advisory at 200 PM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 500 PM EDT.