Tropical Storms Already?

[terracore]

TROPICAL UPDATE: We are about a week away from the start of the Central Pacific hurricane season, but it is already becoming active over the Eastern Pacific.

Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins is tracking two tropical disturbances. Right now, there is a 60% chance for tropical depression development within 48 hours. We will continue to keep an eye on these potential storms.

We are tracking two tropical disturbances over the Eastern Pacific. One of the disturbances is about 1,450 miles SE of Hawaii Island.... and it is roughly 90 miles from the Central Pacific Basin. It has a chance to cross into the Central Pacific on Sunday, which means if it became a storm it would have a Hawaiian name. According to the latest weather models, it seems to be weakening and the circulation is poor; so it does not appear to be a threat to Hawaii. It will likely trek slowly north-northwest, but run into cooler ocean temperatures, dry air and wind shear; but as always, when there is development close to the Central Pacific Basin-- it is wise to watch it carefully. It is also a good reminder (especially with the activity over the Eastern Pacific) that we should gear up and get ready for hurricane season (which begins on June 1). We will continue to keep an eye on it throughout the weekend. Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend and enjoy the trade winds here in paradise! (Updated with aloha - Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins)

[lavalava]

I like the storms. They are exciting! I also have a hunch they do their part to keep some devo at bay...

[mmbvd7]

I'm curious if shutters are used or are benefit here with the storms. Yes, new to the Big Island. We came from tornado ally, so different natural disasters there. I do remember living in Charlestown, SC, many homes used shutters and would batten them down when storms approach. I don't recall, but haven't really looked to see if area homes use them. If so, do they help? Thanks in advance.

Best wishes

[lavalava]

Shutters do help! Beats leaving your windows wide open.

[terracore]

leilanidude has this excellent idea in the hurricane thread:

After last seasons issues, I have had some tree guys out in the last couple weeks, removing any trees that are suspect as to sturdiness. Not wanting to go thru that again. Also cut plywood to fit over all of the louvered windows. I used stainless steel screw in studs and pre-drilled the plywood so it can slide right on, secured by stainless steel wing-nuts. Will take just a couple minutes per window now to install when a storm is imminent. Going to paint the plywood to match the house too, not so much for looks but to keep the plywood in good shape for several seasons.

[Ino]

Currently a hostile air mass environment (cool, relatively dry air mass) for tropical storms/hurricanes exists over the Hawaiian Islands. It would be very difficult for a tropical storm to develop here or even for a storm to move into this air mass. This kind of air mass would dissipate a tropical storm rather quickly.

Yesterday we had a very rare and unusual weather event for this time of year-late May. A modified Arctic air mass settled over the islands after a cold front passage- this is very rare!! Usually by this time of year these air masses would dissipate much further North. And this air mass looks to be in place for almost a week-very unusual. So this can tell you that there's still an abundance of cool Northern air masses.

Hurricanes/tropical storms take excessive Summer heat in the tropics and move it North to the Arctic if they're strong enough and of course the opposite happens with the Northern Hemisphere's Winter. Excessively cold Winter air is heavy and moves South. What is very unusual is for the cool air to make it this far South in late May.

An easy to understand resource for determine any tropical storm threat here is;
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/pr.../index.php

Water temps are critical for determining the threat. Hurricanes need 26 C degree or 78.8 F water to sustain the storm. Tropical storms can exist with cooler water. You can see that water this warm is South of the Hawaiian Islands at this time;
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/graphics/sst.gif

The current storms in the Eastern Pacific Basin don't have much of a chance of developing so No worries in Hawaii from them at this time.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center's 2015 outlook is due out on Tues. 5-26;
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/

Not unusual at all for tropical storms to develop in the Eastern Pacific as the hurricane season for Eastern Pacific starts May 15th so they're right on schedule.