As predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), tropical storm Manuel became a category one hurricane yesterday evening. Manuel, located over the southern Gulf Of California, was an intensifying tropical storm with maximum wind speeds of about 50kts (~57.5 mph) when viewed by the TRMM satellite on September 18, 2013 at 1845 UTC. Manuel had intensified and was a minimal hurricane, hugging Mexico's coast, with wind speeds of about 65kts (~75.8 mph) when seen again by TRMM on September 19, 2013 at 0116 UTC. Rainfall analyses that used TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data are shown overlaid on visible/infrared images from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). TRMM's TMI instrument provided the best coverage of Manuel during both orbits and found several areas of rain falling at a rate of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches).

 

Manuel's extreme rainfall, with flooding and mudslides, has already caused extensive destruction in places such as Acapulco near Mexico's Pacific coastline. The NHC said that hurricane Manuel came ashore west of Culiacan, Mexico at 1200Z. Life threatening flooding and landslides are still expected as Manuel weakens and then dissipates over the mountains of western Mexico.