Hurricane Kate, GOM disturbance, and depression in east Pac.

[WXBUFFJIM]

Kate reintensifies into a hurricane at 5 PM EDT. Satellite imaginary suggest an eye had formed with Kate and thus Kate has intensified back to minimal hurricane status.

At 5 PM EDT, the center of Hurricane Kate was located near latitude 31.5 north, longitude 41.6 west or about 1350 miles east of Bermuda.

Movement is west southwesterly at near 13 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next 24 hours. On this track, the center of kate will pass over warmer waters over the next 24 hours, allowing for further strengthening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Some further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Kate could become a category 2 hurricane within the next 24 hours or so.

Hurricane force winds extend outward 25 miles from the center while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles. Minimum central pressure is now 987 mb or 29.15 inches.

Kate is expected to only be a problem for marine and shipping interests only. Bermuda is expected to be spared from Kate as she turns towards the northwest later in the period as a trough is expected to pick her up.

Meanwhile a new tropical depression has formed in the eastern Pacific. It's tropical depression 14E. E for eastern Pacific. At 5 PM EDT 2 PM PDT, the center of TD14E was located near latitude 15.8 north, longitude 108.6 west or about 435 nautical miles south southeast of Baja California. Movement is toward the west at around 7 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is anticipated over the next 24 hours. Minimum central pressure is 1007 mb or 29.74 inches.

Elsewhere in the tropics, a broad area of low pressure continues to be monitored out over the Bay Of Campeche. Pressure is 1005 mb with winds nearing tropical storm force sustained. The question is will it become more tropical?? It's not impossible and we'll need to watch it carefully. It looks more tropical in nature today, yet it's still tied up with the frontal boundary. Certainly if you're a mariner in the Gulf, treat this like it was a strong tropical storm, because winds are easily sustained a tropical storm force out there at the present time.


Coastal flooding is definitely a problem along the south Texas coast and the coastal flood warning remains in effect through Thursday from Baffin Bay, TX down to the mouth of Rio Grande River, TX. A coastal flood warning means that coastal flooding is immient or is already occuring. Park Police in Padre Island reported significant coastal flooding on the beaches of Padre and South Padre Island. This could continue through Thursday.

Jim