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Hurricane Ernesto (2012)

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Tropical Storm Ernesto
Current storm status
Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:4 p.m. CDT (2100 UTC) August 9
Location:18.1°N 95.2°W ± 20 nm
About 55 mi (85 km) W of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico
About 100 mi (160 km) SE of Veracruz
Sustained winds:45 knots (50 mph; 85 km/h) (1-min mean)
gusting to 55 knots (65 mph; 100 km/h)
Pressure:993 mbar (hPa; 29.32 inHg)
Movement:W at 9 kt (10 mph; 17 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Ernesto is a tropical cyclone currently located over the Yucatán Peninsula. It formed on August 1 from a tropical wave, becoming the fifth tropical depression of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Ernesto moved through the Lesser Antilles on August 3, moving near or over Saint Lucia. It continued westward and passed south of Jamaica on August 5, before strengthening in the western Caribbean off the northeast coast of Honduras. Ernesto became a hurricane before striking Quintana Roo in extreme eastern Mexico.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The NHC first monitored a tropical wave in its tropical weather outlook on July 30, noting that the system had an accompanying low pressure area and was showing signs of development.[1] The convection slowly organized due to generally favorable environmental conditions.[2] After the circulation became better defined, the NHC initiated advisories on Tropical Depression Five at 2100 UTC on August 1. At the time, the depression was located about 810 mi (1305 km) east of the Lesser Antilles, moving west-northwestward due to an anticyclone to its north.[3] In the 12 hours after its formation, the system's convection became disorganized due to westerly wind shear, and the NHC remarked the potential for degeneration into a tropical wave.[4] However, a Hurricane Hunters flight on August 2 observed tropical storm force winds, and accordingly the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Ernesto at 2100 UTC.[5]

After becoming a tropical storm, Ernesto initially had difficulty maintaining convection near the center, and its rapid westward movement prevented significant organization.[6] At around 1200 UTC on August 3, the storm moved over or very near Saint Lucia,[7] and radar imagery observed a well-defined circulation moving by the island.[8] Wind shear gradually decreased over the storm, allowing for outflow to increase in its western portion. There were disparities among tropical cyclone forecast models over the future of Ernesto; some anticipated significant intensification due to warm waters and low shear, whereas others forecast the storm to remain a minimal storm or even weaken.[9] Although the satellite appearance was well-organized, a Hurricane Hunters flight on August 4 observed a disorganized structure,[10] and early the next day the circulation became exposed to the northwest of the convection;[11] the weakening was possibly due to dry air and some mid-level shear, despite otherwise favorable conditions.[12] On August 5, the storm passed south of Jamaica.[13] Early on August 6, convection redeveloped over the center after Ernesto slowed its westward movement,[14] and decreasing wind shear allowed for restrengthening.[15] Late on August 7, Ernesto intensified into a hurricane to the north of Honduras.[16]

While approaching the Yucatán Peninsula, Ernesto quickly intensified, developing a well-defined eye. Early on August 8, the hurricane moved over Banco Chinchorro offshore extreme eastern Mexico,[17] before making its mainland landfall on Mahahual at around 0300 UTC, with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h).[18] Ernesto quickly weakened to tropical storm status after its convection weakened over land.[19]

Current storm information

As of 4 p.m. CDT (2100 UTC) August 9, Tropical Storm Ernesto is located within 20 nautical miles of 18°06′N 95°12′W / 18.1°N 95.2°W / 18.1; -95.2 (Ernesto), about 55 mi (85 km) west of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and about 100 mi (160 km) southeast of Veracruz. Maximum sustained winds are 45 knots (50 mph, 85 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure is 993 mbar (hPa; 29.32 InHg), and the system is moving west at 9 kt (10 mph, 17 km/h). Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center of Ernesto.

Watches and warnings

See also: Tropical cyclone warnings and watches

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable

For latest official information and storm history see:

Preparations and impact

Effects of Hurricane Ernesto in Cuenca del Papaloapan, Oaxaca

When Ernesto first formed, a tropical storm watch was issued for Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Martinique, and Guadeloupe.[20] All of the watches were upgraded to a warning after Ernesto intensified into a tropical storm.[21] While moving through the Lesser Antilles, Ernesto produced wind gusts of 63 mph (101 km/h) on Saint Lucia and sustained winds of 43 mph (69 km/h) in Barbados.[7] Due to the storm, the international airport in Dominica closed for two days, and ferry service between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, and Saint Lucia was canceled. On Saint Lucia, officials ordered businesses to close early. No damage was reported in the Lesser Antilles.[22]

At 1200 UTC on August 4, the government of Jamaica issued an island-wide tropical storm watch,[23] which was upgraded to a warning only three hours later.[24] Officials ordered fishermen on outlying islands to evacuate to the mainland.[25] A tropical storm watch was issued for the Cayman Islands.[26]

Before Ernesto passed south of Jamaica, the government of Honduras issued a tropical storm watch from its border with Nicaragua to Punta Castilla.[13] Portions of the watch area were upgraded to a tropical storm warning on August 6, around the same time that the Mexican government issued a hurricane and tropical storm watch for portions of the Yucatan Peninsula.[27] After Ernesto began quickly intensifying, however, the Mexican government upgraded the watch to a hurricane warning from Chetumal to Punta Allen along the peninsula and a tropical storm warning northward to Tulum. At the same time, the government of Belize issued a hurricane watch for its coastline.[28]

Authorities in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo were moving more than 1,300 tourists from resorts in Mahuahal and other spots to Chetumal, a bayside city that was expected to see less rain and wind than the coast. Two cruises ships scheduled to dock on the Riviera Maya put off their arrival. In the city of Tulum, some 6,000 tourists were sheltering in hotels that authorities said were strong enough to qualify as storm shelters. Authorities also prepared two kindergartens as shelters that can hold up to 220 people. Soldiers and police were moving 600 residents from the fishing village of Punta Allen in Quintana Roo and began preparing for the evacuation of residents from other low-lying coastal settlements. [29] Mexico closed its three major oil export ports in the Gulf of Mexico - Coatzacoalcos, Cayos Arcas and Dos Bocas. Almost all of the country's crude oil exports are shipped to refineries on the Gulf Coast of the United States from the three ports. Authorities expected them to be back in operation by 9 August. [30]

In Tabasco, heavy rains from the storm triggered flooding that killed two people and damaged 100 homes.[31]

References

  1. ^ Stacy Stewart (July 30, 2012). Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  2. ^ Todd Kimberlain (July 31, 2012). Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  3. ^ Richard Pasch; Eric Blake (August 1, 2012). Tropical Depression Five Discussion Number 1 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  4. ^ Todd Kimberlain; Lixion Avila (August 2, 2012). Tropical Depression Five Discussion Number 3 (Report). Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Richard Pasch (August 2, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 5 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  6. ^ Michael Brennan (August 3, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 7 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Lixion Avila (August 3, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Intermediate Advisory Number 7-A (Report). Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Lixion Avila (August 3, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 8 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  9. ^ Jack Beven (August 4, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 10 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  10. ^ Lixion Avila (August 4, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 12 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  11. ^ Jack Beven (August 5, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 14 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  12. ^ Michael Brennan (August 5, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 15 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Michael Brennan (August 5, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 15 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  14. ^ Stacy Stewart (August 6, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 18 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  15. ^ Richard Pasch (August 6, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Discussion Number 20 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  16. ^ Richard Pasch (August 7, 2012). Hurricane Ernesto Special Discussion Number 25 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  17. ^ Stacy Stewart (August 8, 2012). Hurricane Ernesto Discussion Number 27 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  18. ^ Stacy Stewart; John Cangialosi (August 8, 2012). Hurricane Ernesto Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  19. ^ Daniel Brown (August 8, 2012). Hurricane Ernesto Discussion Number 28 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  20. ^ Richard Pasch (August 1, 2012). Tropical Depression Five Advisory Number 1 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  21. ^ Richard Pasch; Eric Blake (August 2, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 5 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  22. ^ "Tropical Storm Ernesto strengthens over Carribean". CBS News. Associated Press. August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  23. ^ Lixion Avila (August 4, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  24. ^ Lixion Avila (August 2, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 12 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  25. ^ "Tropical storm Ernesto brings heavy rain to Jamaica". The Canadian Press. Associated Press. August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  26. ^ Eric Pasch; Dave Roberts (August 5, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 16 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  27. ^ Michael Brennan (August 6, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 19 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  28. ^ Richard Pasch (August 6, 2012). Tropical Storm Ernesto Advisory Number 20 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  29. ^ "Ernesto becomes hurricane off coast of Honduras, heads for landfall at Mexico's Yucatan". Washington Post. August 7, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  30. ^ "CORRECTED-(Official)-UPDATE 3-Ernesto weakens over southern Mexico, churns toward Gulf". Reuters. August 8, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  31. ^ Ioan Grillo, Krista Hughes, Lizbeth Diaz, and Luis Manuel Lopez (August 9, 2012). "Tropical storm Ernesto skirts Mexican Gulf coast, kills two". Reuters. Retrieved August 9, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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