A late-developing tropical storm formed just east of Veracruz, Mexico Sunday evening. Tropical Storm Fernand formed at 7pm EDT. The storm has winds of 45 mph and is expected to move inland by early Monday morning. The greatest threat from the storm as it moves inland is for flooding rain and mudslides. 4-8″ of rain is expected in southern Mexico in the next 48 hours. There could be isolated amounts near 12 inches.
TROPICAL STORM FERNAND SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 2 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062013 600 PM CDT SUN AUG 25 2013 ...DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS INTO TROPICAL STORM FERNAND OVER THE WESTERN BAY OF CAMPECHE... SUMMARY OF 600 PM CDT...2300 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...19.2N 95.8W ABOUT 25 MI...40 KM E OF VERACRUZ MEXICO ABOUT 160 MI...260 KM SE OF TUXPAN MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB...29.62 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... NONE. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR... * GULF COAST OF MEXICO FROM VERACRUZ NORTHWARD TO TAMPICO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 600 PM CDT...2300 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FERNAND WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 95.8 WEST. FERNAND IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/H. A WESTWARD TO WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER SHOULD CROSS THE COAST OF MEXICO IN THE WARNING AREA BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE BEFORE FERNAND MAKES LANDFALL. WEAKENING WILL BEGIN AFTER THE CENTER MOVES INLAND. TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM FROM THE CENTER. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY MEASURED BY THE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 1003 MB...29.62 INCHES. THIS SPECIAL ADVISORY IS BEING ISSUED IN LIEU OF THE SCHEDULED INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY AT 700 PM CDT. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- RAINFALL...TROPICAL STORM FERNAND IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN OVER VERACRUZ...HIDALGO...NORTHERN PUEBLA...SOUTHERN TAMAULIPAS...AND EASTERN SAN LUIS POTOSI MEXICO...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS NEAR 12 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD OVER THE COAST WITHIN THE WARNING AREA IN A FEW HOURS.