Suggested Searches

12 min read

Andres (was 01E – Eastern Pacific)

Satellite Shows Remnants of Former Hurricane Andres

Once a major hurricane now a remnant low pressure system, clouds associated with former Hurricane Andres swirl far west of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

NOAA’s GOES-West satellite provided a visible image of the remnant low pressure area, centered near 20 North latitude and 124 West longitude. The image showed what looked like circular center with a wedge of clouds north of the center.  

 clouds associated with the remnants of former Hurricane Andres
On June 5, 2015, at 14:45 UTC (10:45 a.m. EDT) NOAA’s GOES-West satellite captured this visible image of clouds associated with the remnants of former Hurricane Andres.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that the area is now “void of any deep convection.”

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

June 4, 2015
NASA Sees Tropical Storm Andres Fading

RapidScat of Andres
Early on June 4, RapidScat identified the strongest winds (red) in Andres were in a small area northwest of the center and as strong 25 m/s (55.9 mph/90 kph).
Credits: NASA JPL, Doug Tyler

NASA’s RapidScat instrument and NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a look at Tropical Storm Andres’ fading winds and rain as it weakens toward dissipation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The National Hurricane Center expects Andres to become post-tropical by the end of June 4.

The International Space Station (ISS)-RapidScat instrument measures surface winds over the ocean. The ISS-RapidScat instrument gathered surface wind data on Tuesday, June 4 from 01:53 to 3:25 UTC (June 3 from 9:53 p.m. EDT to 11:25 p.m. EDT). RapidScat identified the strongest winds in Andres were in a small area northwest of the center and as strong 25 meters per second (mps)/55.9 mph/90 kph. Winds surrounding the rest of the center were no stronger than 17 mps/38 mph/61 kph.  At 11 a.m. EDT those tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 125 miles (205 km) from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center.

AIRS image of Andres
On June 4, NASA’s AIRS instrument infrared data on Andres indicated the only thunderstorms seen in the system (purple and blue) were pushed northeast of the center by vertical wind shear.
Credits: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite measured cloud top temperatures in Andres on June 4 at 10:11 UTC (6:11 a.m. EDT). Infrared data shows temperature, and the higher the thunderstorms and more powerful, the colder the cloud tops. Andres cloud top temperatures had warmed, and the only thunderstorms seen in the system were pushed northeast of the center by vertical wind shear. The NHC discussion on June 4 at 11 a.m. EDT, stated that “The mid-level center of the cyclone appears to have decoupled from the low-level circulation about 12 hours ago, and only a small area of deep convection remains nearly two degrees removed from the center.”

Although Andres is weakening, it is still generating ocean swells felt along portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects those swells to begin diminishing late on Thursday and Friday, June 5. 

NHC noted that at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the center of Tropical Storm Andres was located near latitude 20.1 North, longitude 124.5 West. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 millibars (29.62 inches). Andres was moving toward the east at 3 mph (6 kph), and a turn toward the east-southeast or southeast is expected during the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts.

Two factors are weakening Tropical Storm Andres: strong west-southwesterly shear and cool waters. Global computer forecast models show the circulation of Andres degenerating into an open trough (elongated area of low pressure) within two to three days. 

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

June 03, 2015 – Satellite Movie Shows Andres Weaken to a Tropical Storm 

This animation of imagery from NOAA’s GOES-West satellite from June 1 to 3 shows Hurricane Andres eye disappear and weaken to a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, south of Baja California, Mexico.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

A NASA-generated animation of NOAA’s GOES-West satellite imagery from June 1 to 3 showed Hurricane Andres’ eye disappear as the storm weakened into a tropical storm.

NOAA’s GOES-West satellite has provided continuous visible and infrared imagery of the former hurricane since it was born. An animation created by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland captured the storm as it made the transition from a hurricane, back into a tropical storm. Andres is located in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, south of Baja California, Mexico. 

The GOES-West animation showed that on June 3, the coverage and intensity of convection (rising air that forms thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone) associated with Andres continues to decrease as the cyclone moves over cooler waters.

Aqua image of Andres
On June 2, 2015 at 21:20 UTC 5:20 p.m. EDT, NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this visible image of Andres when it was still a hurricane west of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.
Credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the center of Tropical Storm Andres was located near latitude 19.6 North, longitude 125.3 West. That’s about 1,015 miles (1,635 km) west of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Andres is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 kph). According to the National Hurricane Center, “the system’s forward motion should slow down by Thursday morning and Andres should begin to meander Friday, June 5.”  Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts and some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours. The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 millibars (29.42 inches)

Swells generated by Andres are affecting portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  

NHC’s Hurricane Forecaster Dan Brown noted in the 5 a.m. EDT discussion on June 3, “Increasing vertical wind shear, decreasing sea surface temperatures along the forecast track, and a drier and more stable air mass should cause steady weakening during the next couple of days.  Andres is expected to weaken to a tropical depression in about 36 hours, and become a post-tropical remnant low by Friday, June 5.”

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

June 02, 2015 – Satellite Imagery Shows a Weaker Hurricane Andres

GOES image of Andres
This infrared-light image from NOAA’s GOES-West satellite shows a weaker Hurricane Andres on June 2 at 1200 UTC (8 a.m. EDT), Tropical Storm Blanca is (right) southwest.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

Infrared-light imagery from NOAA’s GOES-West satellite on June 2 shows a weaker Hurricane Andres. The weakening of the storm is apparent in the storm’s structure, as it has lost its eye and no longer appears perfectly rounded.

The GOES-West image, taken at 1200 UTC (8 a.m. EDT) was created by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The image also shows fragmented bands of thunderstorms southeast of the center.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Andres was located near latitude 17.2 North, longitude 122.2 West. About 890 miles (1,430 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Andres is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the north and a decrease in forward speed on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 105 mph (165 kph) with higher gusts.  Continued weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Andres is expected to become a tropical storm tonight or Wednesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 969 millibars (28.62 inches).

RapidScat image of Andres
On June 1, RapidScat showed Andres’ strongest sustained winds (dark red) near 35 meters per second (78.2 mph/126 kph) southeast of the center.
Credits: NASA JPL/Doug Tyler

Even though Andres is weakening it is still generating ocean swells that affecting portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula.  The National Hurricane Center (NHC) cautioned that these swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  

NHC Forecaster Daniel Brown noted that Andres will soon be moving over sea surface temperatures of less than 26 degrees Celsius and into a drier and more stable environment. “These unfavorable conditions will cause steady weakening, and Andres is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm within 24 hours, and become a post-tropical cyclone in 72 hours, if not sooner.”

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

June 01, 2015 – NASA Provides Information on Category Four Hurricane Andres

MODIS image of Andres
NASA’s Terra satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Andres on May 31 at 18:25 UTC (2:25 p.m. EDT) that clearly shows the storm’s eye.
Credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response

Hurricane Andres grew into a major hurricane today and NASA’s Aqua satellite provided data to forecasters to help determine the powerful storm’s next move.

NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Andres on May 31 at 18:40 UTC (4:40 p.m. EDT) and the MODIS instrument provided visible data of the storm that showed an eye in the center. The MODIS image showed the eye was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms and bands of thunderstorms were wrapping tightly into the center of circulation.

The next day, June 1, the AIRS or Atmospheric Infrared Instrument that also flies aboard Aqua captured infrared data on the cloud top temperatures on 1 at 09:41 UTC (5:41 a.m. EDT). AIRS measured very cold cloud tops near 210 kelvin (-81.6F/-63.1C) indicating very high, powerful thunderstorms with heavy rain surrounding the eye of the storm.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on June 1 that Andres’ maximum winds had increased to near 145 mph (230 kph) with higher gusts. Andres was a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  NHC forecasters call for a weakening trend to begin later today.

AIRS image of Andres
When NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Andres on June 1, the AIRS instrument measured very cold cloud tops near 81.6F/-63.1C indicating very high, powerful thunderstorms with heavy rain, surrounding the eye of the storm.
Credits: NASA JPL/Ed Olsen

Andres was centered near latitude 15.5 North, longitude 119.8 West. That puts Andres’ center about 825 miles (1,325 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.  Andres was moving toward the west near 6 mph (9 kph) and a turn to the west-northwest with some increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 938 millibars (27.70 inches).

Although Andres is far from land, the powerful hurricane is affecting surf along the coasts of Baja California, Mexico. The NHC noted “Swells generated by Andres are affecting portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”

The NHC discussion indicates that Andres is now on a weakening trend as a result of moving into cooler waters and an area with more stable air from the marine layer, northwest of the storm. Vertical wind shear is also expected to kick in in three days which will further weaken Andres. Current forecasts call for Andres to weaken to a tropical storm in two days and a remnant low pressure area in four days.

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

May 29, 2015 – Two NASA Satellites See Tropical Storm Andres Intensify

MODIS image of Andres
The MODIS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of Tropical Storm Andres on May 28 at 2100 UTC (5 p.m. EDT), about 6 hours after it intensified into a tropical storm.
Credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response

The first tropical depression of the Eastern Pacific Ocean hurricane season strengthened into Tropical Storm Andres. NASA’s Aqua and Global Precipitation Measurement mission core satellite both provided information showing the storm intensifying.

Tropical storm Andres became the first tropical storm of the 2015 Eastern Pacific hurricane season on Thursday, May 28 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT). The GPM core observatory satellite flew over the intensifying tropical depression, then known as Tropical Depression 01E at 1225 UTC (8:25 a.m. EDT). At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, rainfall data from GPM’s Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (Ku Band) instruments were overlaid on an enhanced GOES-EAST satellite infrared image to create a three-dimensional picture of the storm. The data showed that rainfall was occurring at a rate of over 60 mm (2.4 inches) per hour in powerful convective storms near Andres’ center. GPM radar data showed tall thunderstorms reaching heights of over 15 km (9.3 miles) in a band of thunderstorms.

AIRS image of Andres
On May 28 at 2100 UTC (5 p.m. EDT) the AIRS instrument aboard Aqua captured measured some cloud top temperatures near the center of circulation at -63 Fahrenheit (-53 Celsius), (purple) and research has shown that those storms can generate heavy rainfall.
Credits: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen

Eight and a half hours later, the MODIS or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a visible light image of Tropical Storm Andres. On May 28 at 2100 UTC (5 p.m. EDT), about 6 hours after it intensified into a tropical storm MODIS data showed Andres took on the signature “comma shape” of a tropical storm. The bulk of clouds and showers were south of the center of circulation in a large, thick band of thunderstorms spiraling into the center. The image was created by the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA Goddard.

At the same time, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard Aqua captured infrared data. Infrared data indicates temperatures, and the higher the thunderstorms are in the troposphere, the colder the temperature. The colder, higher thunderstorms are more powerful storms with the capability of dropping heavier rainfall. AIRS measured some cloud top temperatures near the center of circulation at -63 Fahrenheit (-53 Celsius), and research has shown that those storms can generate heavy rainfall.

GPM image of Andres
GPM measured rainfall in intensifying Tropical Depression 01E at 1225 UTC (8:25 a.m. EDT) and saw rainfall was occurring at a rate of over 60 mm (2.4 inches) per hour near Andres’ center.
Credits: NASA/JAXA/SSAI, Hal Pierce

At 9 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Andres was located near latitude 12.5 North and longitude 114.6 West, about 780 miles (1,260 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California  Andres is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 kph).  A northwestward motion at a slightly slower forward speed is expected continue through Saturday night.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 70 mph (110 kph) with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Andres is expected to become a hurricane later in the day on Friday, May 29. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 millibars (29.36 inches).

During the past month the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has observed warmer sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This indicates that El Nino is becoming stronger. El Nino usually means stronger hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific basins so many other tropical cyclones are likely to follow Andres lead in the eastern Pacific.

The National Hurricane Center expects Andres’ winds to peak on May 31 near 100 mph before a weakening trend commences. Andres is expected to remain at sea, and move in a northwesterly direction over the next several days.

Rob Gutro / Hal Pierce
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

May 28, 2015 – First Eastern Pacific Tropical Depression Runs Ahead of Dawn

GOES-West image of 01E
NOAA’s GOES-West satellite captured an infrared image of the developing depression on May 28 at 1200 UTC (8 a.m. EDT). The GOES image showed a circular center with bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the center from the northwest and southeast.
Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

The first tropical depression of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season formed during the early morning of Thursday, May 28, 2015, well southwest of Mexico. An image of the storm taken from NOAA’s GOES-West satellite shows the depression in infrared light as it was born in the early morning hours before sunrise. To the east of the depression, the GOES image shows the sunlight of dawn reaching Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

At 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EDT) the center of Tropical Depression One-E was located near latitude 11.0 North, longitude 110.4 West, ABOUT 685 miles (1,105 km) southwest of Manzanillo Mexico. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h), but a decrease in forward speed is expected to begin later today. 

Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts and it is expected to become a tropical storm later today, May 28 and could become a hurricane by late Friday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 millibars (29.68 inches).

NOAA’s GOES-West satellite captured an infrared image of the developing depression on May 28 at 1200 UTC (8 a.m. EDT). The GOES image showed a circular center with bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the center from the northwest and southeast.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast said that the depression should turn toward the northwest by tonight and the north-northwest by Friday night remaining over open ocean.

Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center