Information on Tropical Storm Rick

AT 09PM MDT 10/20/09 FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI...

RAINS FROM RICK ALREADY AFFECTING MEXICO...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MEXICAN MAINLAND FROM SAN BLAS TO ALTATA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA FROM AGUA BLANCA SOUTHWARD ON THE WEST COAST...AND FOR THE EAST COAST FROM BUENA VISTA SOUTHWARD... INCLUDING CABO SAN LUCAS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR AND WESTERN MAINLAND MEXICO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF RICK

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER EXTREME SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA.

LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY RICK WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR COAST AND THE WEST-CENTRAL COAST OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...CAUSING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS.

October 20, 2009 8:47 PM MDT Tropical Storm Rick maintained its strength through the day today. The forecast track remains just south of the Baja peninsula with the eye of the storm forecast to move 80-100 miles south of the coast between Cabo San Lucas and Cabo Pulmo through the day on Wednesday, then cross the Sea of Cortez for landfall near Topolobampo on the mainland.

Tropical Storm Rick may yet deliver enormous amounts of rain to the southern most portions of the peninsula.

Tropical Storm Rick is about 145 miles SSE of Cabo San Lucas.

Residents of the tip of the Baja California peninsula should continue to be on alert for heavy rains and potential flash flooding, but it would appear the greatest threat is diminishing. The diameter of the tropical storm force conditions is as much as 140 miles.

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At 09PM MDT Tropical Storm, Rick is currently located near 20.9N 109.2W and is moving 50° at 12kts. Central barometric pressure is 990Mb with winds 55kts with gusts to 65kts Tropical Storm Rick has tropical storm force conditions extending out as much as 140 miles. The eye is currently very undefined.

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Tropical Storm Rick is expected to maintain current strength as it approaches Baja California Sur. Rick is then expected to cross the Sea of Cortez and make a second landfall on the mainland near Topolobampo. Some strengthening over the very warm waters of the Sea is possible.

Hurricane Rick stands unique in Eastern Pacific hurricane history. Category 5 Hurricanes are quite rare in the Eastern Pacific. The last two Cat 5 Hurricanes were in 2002, Kenna and Hernan, and before that were 1997's Guillermo and Linda, strangely enough a year with the same series of hurricane names. 1997's Hurricane Linda is the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Rick is second, with 180mph peak winds..

If you are traveling to Cabo San Lucas this week the major hotels and resorts are usually designed to withstand the force of our tropical weather. We advise travelers to inform family members back home of their where about's and let them know that they may be perfectly safe but unable to contact them for a period of time before and after the storm passes.

It is currently unclear how this will affect the Bisbee Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, billed as the richest fishing event in the world. Set to begin on Friday the seas surrounding Cabo San Lucas will certainly be affected by the passage of the storm. Fishing is usually very bad for several days for both the catch and the fishermen.

With the previous latest landfall of a tropical cyclone in Baja being Oct 13th, Tropical Storm Olivia in 1967 and Hurricane Norbert last year on Oct 11, Hurricane Rick is setting records. it is likely now that Rick will make landfall as a tropical cyclone, making it the latest season tropical cyclone in Baja history. Rick was the second most powerful storm earlier this week, ever generated in the Eastern Pacific.

Tropical Depression 20E formed on the afternoon of 10/15/09. TD20E rapidly evolved into Tropical Storm Rick on the evening release from the NHC at 9PM on 10/15/09. Rick became a hurricane on the morning of 10/16. Rick achieved category 2 status on the evening of 10/16. Rick became a Category 4 Hurricane at 3AM MDT on 10/17. Rick became a Category 5 Hurricane at 4:10PM on 10/17. Rick was down graded to a Hurricane Category 4 at 9AM on 10/18. At 3AM MDT 10/19 A Hurricane Watch was issued for the tip of the Baja California peninsula. Rick was further downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane at 6AM 10/19/09 Rick diminished quickly on the afternoon of 10/19 becoming a Cat 2 at 3PM and a Cat 1 at 6PM. At 9PM on 10/19 Rick was reduced to a tropical storm.

The next update to this page will be at 03PM MDT or as information is released from the National Hurricane Center in Miami..