Thread: Hurricane Jova

Hurricane Jova Gains Strength in Eastern Pacific
Published October 09, 2011
| Associated Press

MIAMI – Forecasters say Hurricane Jova is gaining strength out in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday evening that Jova had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and was centered about 305 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. It was moving east at 8 mph..
Forecasters expect Jova could become a major hurricane by Monday night or Tuesday. A hurricane watch is out for Punta San Telmo north to Cabo Corrientes. A tropical storm watch south of there.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Irwin continued swirling in the eastern Pacific, about 810 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Irwin had maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph but has prompted no coastal watches or warnings.

This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former travel editor of The Dallas Morning News. Bleiberg is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.


Hurricane season lasts through November, which we're reminded this morning as Jova threatens to thrash the west coast of Mexico.

The Category 3 storm has altered two cruise itineraries and may affect several other ships sailing the Mexican Riviera.

At 8 a.m. ET today, the National Hurricane Center reported the storm was located 255 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The storm, which was heading east at 6 mph, is expected to turn to the northeast later today and reach the coast by Tuesday afternoon. It may reach Category 4 strength.

A hurricane warning is currently in effect from Punta San Telmo northward to Cabo Corrientes.

The storm caused the Carnival Spirit to reverse its nine-day Los Angeles-based itinerary, calling on Ensenada on Saturday instead of being at sea.

Today it will visit Cabo San Lucas instead of Manzanillo. Tomorrow it will call on La Paz, which was not on the original itinerary, instead of Cabo. Wednesday, it will be back in Cabo where it was originally scheduled to visit; Thursday it will call on Puerto Vallarta, instead of Cabo. Then the ship will be at sea before returning to Los Angeles next Sunday.

In addition, the Disney Wonder, on a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles, will replace a scheduled call in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow with a stop in Cabo San Lucas.

(CNN) -- Emergency officials scrambled to open shelters as Jova rapidly strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coast early Monday, becoming a major hurricane with 120 mph winds, forecasters said.
Mexican authorities described the storm as a "great danger" and warned that the hurricane could intensify before it makes landfall Tuesday.
The Category 3 storm was about 255 miles southwest of the resort town of Manzanillo at 8 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was moving east at about about 6 mph.
A hurricane watch is in effect from Punta San Telmo north to Cabo Corrientes, near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
"Our main concern is the welfare of the population," said Trinidad Lopez, civil protection director in Jalisco state. "We're doing everything in our power to protect people."
At least 100 shelters were open Sunday for people who could be affected by the storm, Lopez said. Food, cots and blankets have been distributed, he said.
Crews positioned heavy machinery in strategic locations throughout the state, Lopez said.
Mexico's federal government is providing assistance as well. More than 300 soldiers have been deployed and members of the Mexican navy in Puerto Vallarta are on alert, Lopez said.
A tropical storm watch also is in effect in an area near Punta San Telmo, stretching south toward Lazaro Cardenas.
Mexico's National Meteorological Service warned boaters off the country's Pacific coast to prepare for increasing rains, waves and winds.
High surf warnings are also in effect, with forecasters warning swells will strike Mexico's southwest coast later in the day Monday.
"These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," the hurricane center said. "Jova is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over the states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches possible."

Thanks for the information and updates, Hanna!

Sue & Sheila are going to be proud of you for keeping us informed!
(When are they getting back?)

Hurricane Jova to Slam Mexico Pacific Coast - YouTube


Looks like Puerto Vallarta is getting hit.

Mexico on high alert for Hurricane Jova
(AFP) – 4 hours ago
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities have placed four southern coastal states on high alert ahead of Tuesday's expected arrival of Jova, a major hurricane barreling in from the Pacific.
The Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said in a 0300 GMT bulletin that Jova was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour and was 255 kilometers (158 miles) southwest of the busy port city of Manzanillo, in Colima state.
It was moving north-northeast at 11 km/h (7 mph).
Jova has strengthened to a category three storm on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale and was forecast to become a category four before weakening as it makes landfall on Tuesday.
"On the forecast track, the center of the hurricane will be near the coast of Mexico in the hurricane warning area by Tuesday afternoon or evening," the NHC said.
"Some fluctuations in strength could occur during the next day or so but Jova is still expected to reach the coast of Mexico as a major hurricane."
Mexican authorities issued hurricane alerts for large swaths of the Pacific coastline.
The zone stretched north from the port of Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan for almost 480 kilometers (298 miles), encompassing the popular tourist cape of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco, Mexico's meteorological institute said.
Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan and Nayarit state to the north were all put on guard for possible landslides from heavy rain expected to be dumped by the ninth Pacific hurricane of the season.
"A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall," the NHC warned.
The surge, said the hurricane center, "will be accompanied by large and destructive waves" as well as torrential rainfall with accumulations of up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) in some areas.
Several major storms or hurricanes have buffeted Mexico's Pacific coast in recent months but most have remained offshore.
The season's first named storm, Arlene, left at least 16 people dead and drenched much of the country in July.
Tropical storms and hurricanes last year caused flooding and mudslides in Mexico that killed 125 people, left hundreds of thousands homeless and caused more than $4 billion in damage.

Originally Posted by LuLu

Thanks for the information and updates, Hanna!

Sue & Sheila are going to be proud of you for keeping us informed!
(When are they getting back?)

I think they get back on Sunday, not sure.

This really is a MAJOR hurricane!

(Reuters) - Hurricane Jova bore down on Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, threatening to hit one of the country's busiest cargo ports and tourist resorts with destructive waves, heavy rainfall and flooding.

In the popular resort town of Puerto Vallarta, people were preparing for the biggest storm in nine years by boarding up shops and staying at home.

The Category 3 storm, with top winds reaching 115 miles per hour, was about 120 miles southwest of the port city of Manzanillo at 11 a.m. EDT, although the hurricane center said it could move slightly faster later on Tuesday.

"Jova is expected to be near or at major hurricane strength when it reaches the coast of Mexico," the center said. A major hurricane is a storm rated at least category three, which the NHC says causes devastating damage with a high risk of injury or death.

The center expects Jova will turn toward the north on Tuesday night, after reaching the coast in the afternoon or evening. Hurricanes weaken over land.

A dangerous storm surge is likely to produce bad flooding along the coast when Jova makes landfall, the center said.

Rainfall of up to 12 inches/ is forecast in parts of the states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco, possibly causing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

"A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall," the hurricane advisory said.

"Near the coast ... the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves," it said.

Puerto Vallarta Mayor Salvador Gonzalez said the resort was preparing shelters for residents that would be evacuated.

"There will be a lot of constant rain, which could hit the mountainous region around Puerto Vallarta," raising the danger of deadly landslides, Gonzalez said.

"But after a couple days of rain we'll be ready for the Pan-American Games," he said.

The games bring together athletes from across the Americas in Guadalajara, and some sport competitions will be held in Puerto Vallarta.

(Writing by Elinor Comlay; Editing by Anthony Boadle and Bill Trott)