Category 5 Hurricane!
October 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
– ![[Image of 5-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/EP20/refresh/EP2009W5_NL_sm2+gif/203517W5_NL_sm.gif)
Hurricane “Rick” off the west coast of Mexico reached Category Five status Saturday afternoon. The storm is well out at sea now, but there’s a better than 50/50 chance that it will turn back across the Baja Pensinsula somewhere near Los Mochis. As upward motion works eastward, there is a chance of a tropical storm developing in the Atlantic/Caribbean next week. Here’s a satellite loop (note the well defined eye of the storm). Here’s the rainbow loop. Rick should bring a heavy band of rain through Mexico into Texas and across the southern U.S. It also may help pull more cool air into Michigan around next Saturday. Here’s a satellite picture of the Western Pacific showing strong Typhoon Lupit, which is heading toward the Philippine Islands.
Wow, looks like its gonna be a crazy couple of days with Rick here. Its going to be interesting to see how it all turns out. Hopefully with no loss of life!
Look out beaners!