image: Early on June 4, RapidScat identified the strongest winds (red) in Andres were in a small area northwest of the center and as strong 25 m/s (55.9 mph/90 kph). view more
Credit: Credits: NASA JPL, Doug Tyler
NASA's RapidScat instrument and NASA's Aqua satellite provided a look Tropical Storm Andres' fading winds and rain as it weakens toward dissipation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The National Hurricane Center expects Andres to become post-tropical by the end of June 4.
The International Space Station (ISS)-RapidScat instrument measures surface winds over the ocean. The ISS-RapidScat instrument gathered surface wind data on Tuesday, June 4 from 01:53 to 3:25 UTC (June 3 from 9:53 p.m. EDT to 11:25 p.m. EDT). RapidScat identified the strongest winds in Andres were in a small area northwest of the center and as strong 25 meters per second (mps)/55.9 mph/90 kph. Winds surrounding the rest of the center were no stronger than 17 mps/38 mph/61 kph. At 11 a.m. EDT those tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 125 miles (205 km) from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite measured cloud top temperatures in Andres on June 4 at 10:11 UTC (6:11 a.m. EDT). Infrared data shows temperature, and the higher the thunderstorms and more powerful, the colder the cloud tops. Andres cloud top temperatures had warmed, and the only thunderstorms seen in the system were pushed northeast of the center by vertical wind shear. The NHC discussion on June 4 at 11 a.m. EDT, stated that "The mid-level center of the cyclone appears to have decoupled from the low-level circulation about 12 hours ago, and only a small area of deep convection remains nearly two degrees removed from the center."
Although Andres is weakening, it is still generating ocean swells felt along portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects those swells to begin diminishing late on Thursday and Friday, June 5.
NHC noted that at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the center of Tropical Storm Andres was located near latitude 20.1 North, longitude 124.5 West. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 millibars (29.62 inches). Andres was moving toward the east at 3 mph (6 kph), and a turn toward the east-southeast or southeast is expected during the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts.
Two factors are weakening Tropical Storm Andres: strong west-southwesterly shear and cool waters. Global computer forecast models show the circulation of Andres degenerating into an open trough (elongated area of low pressure) within two to three days.
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