Tropics: Bud growing in size, Sanvu is now stronger

Tropical Storm Bud : photo NOAA | zoom

2012 Hurricane & Cyclone Season

2012 Hurricane Season Links
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)

Tropical Storm Bud Growing in Size | Tropical Storm Sanvu Gaining Strength

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 May, 2012 : - - Over the recent hours, the convection associated with Tropical Storm Bud has increased and the storm is now larger in size. The increase in size may indicate that Bud is ready to strengthen and become a hurricane soon. While Bud may increase in intensity and become a hurricane, it is going to gradually move into some cooler water as it works toward the north over the next couple of days.

Bud will likely track northwest slowly over the next 24 hours, then make more of a turn toward the northeast toward the end of the week. All interests along the Mexican coast need to keep an eye on Bud, but it is anticipated that a gradual weakening will occur as the system approaches the coast toward the weekend and heads toward the southern end of the Gulf of California.

Satellite Imagery

Storm Region Infrared(GOES 13; FNMOC)
Storm Region Enhanced Infrared(GOES 13; FNMOC)
Storm Region Visible(GOES 13; FNMOC)

Storm-Centered Infrared(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement)(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Water Vapor(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Visible(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Water Visible (Colorized)(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)

Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Infrared(GOES 15; NOAA)
Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Water Vapor(GOES 15; NOAA)
Tropical East Pacific Hurricane Sector Visible(GOES 15; NOAA)
Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean Basin Infrared(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean Basin (Aviation Color Enhancement)(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean Basin Water Vapor(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean Basin Visible(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)
Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean Basin Visible (Colorized)(GOES 13; NOAA/SSD)

Global Sea-Surface Temperature
Current global sea temperatures and tropical cyclone activity

Tropical Storm Sanvu : Image JTWC

Tropical Storm Sanvu Gaining Strength

As of Wednesday morning, EDT, Tropical Storm Sanvu (03W) was centered near 17.0 degrees north and 140.1 degrees east, or about 550 miles south of Iwo To, Japan. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 65 mph.

Tropical Storm Sanvu will continue moving northwest through the open waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Conditions remain favorable for additional strengthening to occur. Sanvu will turn more to the north on Thursday as a frontal boundary to the northwest begins to influence the system. Tropical Storm Sanvu is still expected to reach typhoon strength on Thursday or Friday.

Later this week, Sanvu is expected to turn to the northeast staying well to the south and east of Japan. However, areas including Iwo To and Chichi Jima may be in the path of this storm, and could see some rain and wind on Thursday night into Friday.

Satellite Imagery

Storm Region Infrared(MTSAT2; FNMOC)
Storm Region Enhanced Infrared(MTSAT2; FNMOC)
Storm Region Visible(MTSAT2; FNMOC)

Storm-Centered Infrared(MTSAT2; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement)(MTSAT2; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Water Vapor(MTSAT2; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Visible(MTSAT2; NOAA/SSD)
Storm-Centered Water Visible (Colorized)(MTSAT2; NOAA/SSD)

Tropical West Pacific Infrared(MTSAT2; NOAA)
Tropical West Pacific Enhanced Infrared(MTSAT2; NOAA)
Tropical West Pacific Water Vapor(MTSAT2; NOAA)
Tropical West Pacific Visible(MTSAT2; NOAA)
West Pacific Infrared(MTSAT2; NRL)
West Pacific Infrared (Color-Enhanced)(MTSAT2; NRL)
West Pacific Water Vapor(MTSAT2; NRL)
West Pacific Visible(MTSAT2; NRL)

Atlantic/Caribbean : image NOAA

Watching the Northwest Caribbean

A developing area of low pressure in the northwestern Caribbean will track to the northeast across Cuba and the northern Bahamas over the next several days. It will cause locally heavy rain from far South Florida into the northern Bahamas. Experts do not expect this low to develop much over the next several days due to hostile shear aloft.

No other tropical systems are expected to develop over the next 48-72 hours. The Atlantic tropical season officially begins on June 1.