Tropical Storm Nora is forecast to continue weakening far southeast of the Big Island, Central Pacific Hurricane Center meteorologists reported Monday morning.
The 14th named storm of the 2014 Eastern Pacific hurricane season was located about 740 miles southeast of Hilo, circulating 60 mph winds and tracking west at 9 mph as of 11 a.m. Monday, forecasters said. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward from Nora’s center up to 70 miles.
South-southwest wind shear up to 40 mph is expected to continue tearing apart the storm through Tuesday night. Warm sea surface temperatures, ranging between 82 and 84 degrees, could foster some convection near the center of Nora, however, the shear “should eventually over power any contribution form the favorable” sea surface temperatures, forecasters said.
Nora is expected to begin tracking north-northwest, steered by a large upper-level ridge located to the northeast of the system, through Monday night. On Tuesday, Nora is forecast to shift toward a more northward track before losing nearly all low-level convection by Wednesday night. Thereafter, trade winds are expect to steer the storm west-southwest below the state.
By Saturday morning, current forecast models, which have some uncertainty beyond three days out, have Nora located 300 miles south-southeast of the Big Island. At that time, forecasters expect the weather system to be a post-tropical remnant low circulating 30 mph winds.
In the Eastern Pacific, a tropical depression could form by the weekend hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico, National Hurricane Center meteorologists said. On Monday, the area of low pressure, located 600 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, was producing some showers. The disturbance has a 70 percent chance of forming into a tropical depression within five days.
The Central and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30.
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