Tropical Depression Forms in the Bahamas, Warnings Posted

The National Hurricane Center issued Tropical Storm Warnings for the Florida Keys this morning as a newly formed Tropical Depression was moving toward the south Florida coast from the Bahamas this morning. According to a statement, the depression may form into a storm later today, and begin to impact parts of Florida in the coming days. The longer range outlook takes the storm into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. A good reminder to travelers heading south that Hurricane Season is now upon us.

Hurricane Rick - 2pm Advisory

From the National Hurricane Center
2pm PDT Sunday, October 18, 2009

--Position: 450 miles South of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
--Movement: WNW 14 MPH
--Maximum sustained winds: 160 MPH (Category 5 Hurricane)

A general decrease in intensity is forecast over the next 48 hours, however Rick expected to make landfall as a dangerous Hurricane later this week.

United Airlines and American Airlines travel waiver for customers flying through Los Cabos

Second Strongest Hurricane On Record In Eastern Pacific Aims for Cabo

Officials at the National Hurricane Center are now calling Hurricane Rick the second strongest hurricane on record in the Eastern Pacific. As of 8pm Pacific time, Rick was located 295 miles South-Southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving West-Northwest near 14 mph. The storm is expected to make a turn to the North by Monday. Maximum sustained winds are now up to 180 mph, with stronger gusts -making Rick an extremely dangerous Category Five Hurricane. Additional strengthening is possible overnight, before a slow gradual weakening commences.

Most forecast models show a weakened version of Hurricane Rick hitting southern tip of Baja by the middle part of next week. Anyone planning travel to this region should keep turned to changing weather conditions, and possible air travel disruptions.

Pictured above: Infrared image of Hurricane Rick with a most impressive stadium-like eye wall surrounding a beautiful 10-nautical mile wide eye.

Hurricane Jimena Gaining Strength Off Coast of Mexico

Travelers to Baja California/Cabo should monitor the latest Hurricane Center updates.

As of 11:00 PM Eastern:

Hurricane Watch issued for Southern Baja Region

Jimena was located 255 miles SSW of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, moving NW at 7mph. Maximum sustained winds are 145mph, making it a Category 4 - major hurricane. The likely track of the storm is illustrated to the left, courtesy of Weather Underground.

Several Tropical Disturbances Being Monitored

We are in the heart of Hurricane Season in the U.S., and several tropical disturbances have recently formed over the Atlantic and Pacific. Here are the latest Sunday afternoon advisories and forecast tracks. Stay tuned for updates, and possible impacts travel in the week to come.


Data supplied by the National Hurricane Center

Atlantic:

• Tropical Storm Claudette located is just off the Florida Panhandle is expected to move inland over the next 24-hours. Maximum sustained winds are currently at 50 mph.
• Tropical Depression Ana is located near the Leeward islands, moving WNW at 23 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 35 mph. Long-range models bring Ana into the Gulf of Mexico late in the week.
• Tropical Storm Bill, located far out into the Atlantic, has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Bill is showing significant signs of strengthening, and some models bring the storm to a Category 4 hurricane within a few days. Long-range forecasts indicate Bill will be located over the Atlantic, South of Bermuda, by the end of the week.

Pacific:

• Hurricane Guillermo is currently 1000 miles East of Hilo, Hawaii. Maximum sustained winds of 85mph. The storm is expected to gradually weaken and push to the Northwest, and not directly impact the Hawai'ian islands.

Hurricane Ike Expected To Cause Travel Disruptions

Even if you are not planning travel through the projected path of Hurricane Ike, you may be in for travel delays the next few days.

The 10am CDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center brings Ike onshore, west of Houston somewhere between a category 2 and category 4 Hurricane. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes are expected. Ike has a particularly large wind field, and regardless the actual landfall, areas up to 275 miles from the eye of the Hurricane may experience sustained tropical storm force winds.

Several flights have already been cancelled. As a result, airlines are offering alternative arrangements for passengers flying in or through the risk areas. Even if you are not traveling through Ike's path, your particular plane might have been scheduled to earlier in the day, thereby resulting in your flight to be delayed or cancelled. It is highly recommended that you check the flight status of your departing flight before heading for the airport.

Major airline hubs in the affected area:
Houston - Continental Airlines
Dallas/FW - American Airlines

(Image courtesy of National Weather Service Fort Worth)

Gustav Likely To Impact Travel

Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall over Haiti on Tuesday, continues to move over the warm open waters of the Caribbean. Forecasters say that although the interaction with land caused the storm to weaken to tropical storm status, warm sea temperatures and low shear will likely cause the storm to regain strength.

The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm to eventually move into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, possibly as a category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph.

Persons planning travel into the Caribbean over the next couple days, or into the Gulf regions of the United States next week, should monitor the latest information on Gustav's progress.

Although the airlines do a wonderful job accommodating passengers in advance who might be impacted by inclement weather, it is wise to monitor changes yourself, particularly if your travel includes a cruise, or hotel accommodations.