TROPICAL STORM ERIKA FORMS IN GULF OF MEXICO

National Hurricane Center (through weatherunderground.com) ^ | August 14, 2003 | Lixion Avila

[John H K]

Tropical Storm Erika Advisory Number 1

Statement as of 5:00 PM EDT on August 14, 2003

...Erika...the fifth tropical storm of the season forms in the Gulf of Mexico...

Tropical Storm Erika could threaten southern Texas or northeastern Mexico within the next 36 to 48 hours. Watches or warnings will likely be issued tonight or early Friday. Consult statements issued by local government and National Weather Service offices for recommended actions in your area.

Reports from a reconnaissance plane and satellite images indicate that the area of disturbed weather in the Gulf of Mexico has become Tropical Storm Erika...the fifth tropical storm of the season.

At 5 PM EDT...2100z...the poorly-defined center of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 26.2 north...longitude 84.4 west or about 350 miles ...565 km southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Erika is moving toward the west near 21 mph...33 km/hr...and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph... 65 km/hr...with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles...110 km to the north of the center. Stronger winds...especially in gusts...are likely to affect oil rigs near and to the north of Erika.

Minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force plane was 1011 mb...29.85 inches.

Repeating the 5 PM EDT position...26.2 N... 84.4 W. Movement toward...west near 21 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 40 mph. Minimum central pressure...1011 mb.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 PM EDT.

Forecaster Avila

[John H K]

Was interesting in that it developed strongly at mid and upper levels but went two days without developing a surface circulation.....

[Rocket1968]

One of my first loves was an Erika. I still smile when I think of her.

[Russell Scott]

Hopefully it will end up doing what the last hurricane did, creating a nice monsoonal flow over AZ, NM, and CO. This part of the country has had serious drought problems, and the last hurricane was a huge blessing. Lake Powell needs a serious filling as well.

[BushCountry]

I think the water was too cold in the Altantic (freaky temps) for it to develop, the gulf is a different story.

[You Dirty Rats]

My daughter is an Erica (close enough), but she's 16 1/2 so it's not always a smile these days ;).

[CholeraJoe]

You're finally famous, Rika.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Moving too fast to intensify. Needs to slow below 10-12MPH to strengthen.

Read Issac's Storm-the very best real life re-telling of the 1900 Strom that hit Galveston.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Moving too fast to intensify. Needs to slow below 10-12MPH to strengthen.

Read Issac's Storm-the very best real life re-telling of the 1900 Storm that hit Galveston.

[John H K]

Moving too fast to intensify. Needs to slow below 10-12MPH to strengthen.

Completely, 100% wrong. For whatever reason that myth has developed the last few years.

12 mph is 10 kts. Literally hundreds of storms have strengthened to hurricanes moving 10-20 kts.

Allen in 1980 went to Cat 5 three different times moving 20 kts or even higher at times.

[deadmenvote]

I,m sick of these storms getting named in alphabetical order. Time to start after the last storm of the year.

I feel the need for a lawyer

Sincerely,

ZZ

[ovrtaxt]

ping!

[GatekeeperBookman]

Thanks! I am 'gone idiot', I suppose. I do recall a number of very big ones which did slow & grow something awful. Recall that really big one-Gilbert about 12-13 years ago? Wow-lucky it hit in Mexico where few people lived.

[Beck_isright]

After the storms associated with that blew through here this a.m., I'm not suprised. Good luck Texans.

[Cool Guy]

Hey teach, they named one after your screen name, Erika Strom.

[BushCountry]

Wow-lucky it hit in Mexico where few people lived.

I guess you don't like the people who live in Mexico? LOL

[y2k_free_radical]

rotflmao-i understand

[Cyber Liberty]

Dammit, ya beat me....

[RikaStrom]

You know, I am beginning to sense a recurring theme with you guys! :-)

[Cyber Liberty]

Well, it's just that I've been waiting for this since they announced the names of this year's storms....saw the "E" ticket and started laying in wait.

[anymouse]

Didn't know that you took a Caribian vacation. Welcome back - I think. :)