Hurricane update - 15 September

Two systems to watch over the days to come.

Hurricane Gordon is in the middle of the Atlantic at the moment, blowing 110 mph winds. These will decrease, but the sting is in the tail. Gordon will turn into an "ordinary" Atlantic depression, as it moves up from the south, and we can expect it off the Bay of Biscay by the middle of next week. It will be a vigorous low pressure system, which may well bring a lot of wind and rain to northern Spain, western France and the UK by Thursday. This is a long way off, but it is advisable to monitor the forecast.

Tropical Storm Lane is buffeting the west coast of Mexico, and the Hurricane Center is issuing a number of tropical storm and hurricane warnings and watches.

Definitions
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are likely within 24 hours.
A hurricane watch means that these are possible within 36 hours.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are likely within 24 hours
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Islas Marias

A tropical storm warning is in force for the Pacific coast from El Roblito north to La Cruz, and from Punta San Telmo to La Cruz.

A tropical storm watch is in force from La Cruz to Altata.

A hurricane watch remains in effect from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, with the note that the hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours.

A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch remain in effect for Baja California, from Buena Vista southward along the east coast and from Agua Blanca southward along the west coast.

At 0200 PDT, Lane was located 110 miles west of Manzanillo and 365 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas. Although the system is forecast to remain offshore, a small deviation is enough to bring it very close to the coast of mainland Mexico, within the areas outlined above. Lane carries maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, and could become a hurricane later today. Tropical storm winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the centre.

Total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches [50 to 100 mm] are expected along the west central coast of Mexico, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches [150 mm] in the coastal mountains. This rainfall could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

PLEASE RELAY - PLEASE RELAY