It is NORBERT and DOLLY out there!

Starting the month of September 2014, and  already in the midst of the  historical peak of the annual Atlantic hurricane season, mother Nature is giving Mexico a double treat of tropical cyclone impacts on both the Pacific and Gulf coasts.

Color-enhanced infrared satellite image [NOAA] of 3 September 2014 showing tropical storms NORBERT and DOLLY impacting the Pacific and Gulf coasts in Mexico

Tropical storm NORBERT is the 14th named tropical cyclone in what has been a rather active 2014 East Pacific hurricane season so far. This storm is moving generally NNW in a favorable atmosphere-ocean environment that nay favor strengthening, possibly to hurricane strength, over the next day or so.

Forecast track for tropical storm NORBERT as of 3 September 2014, courtesy of the U.S. Navy Research Laboratory based on NOAA data

Tropical storm DOLLY, the 4th named tropical cyclone of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, a rather sluggish one so far, is coming onshore near Tampico on Mexico’s Gulf coast.

Forecast track for tropical storm DOLLY as of 3 September 2014, courtesy of the U.S. Navy Research Laboratory based on NOAA data

It appears the main impacts from both these tropical cyclones will be in the form of heavy rains, which always pose the risk of flash floods given the topography near both coastal regions, and coastal flooding.

Satellite image for the aviation industry [NOAA} of 3 September 2014 showing the East Pacific region off the coast of southern Mexico, Central America and Panama populated by several storm cells

In the East Pacific basin the region off the coasts of southern Mexico, Central America and Panama continue to be populated by numerous storm cells and tropical waves, which  may see future cyclonic activity. While over in the Atlantic ‘Hurricane Alley’ is basically empty of any significant traffic today, while a well organized tropical wave is nearing the western coastline of Equatorial Africa  and the eastern Atlantic near the Cape Verde Islands. We’ll have to monitor this system to see what, if anything, happens with it as it moves westward in coming days.

Satellite image for the aviation industry [NOAA} of 3 September 2014 showing a large tropical wave emerging over the East Atlantic just south of the Cape Verde Islands, and a rather empty ‘hurricane alley’

There is still plenty of hurricane season left on both the East Pacific and Atlantic basins. All interests  around these basins will do well to remain alert, be prepared, and to keep on practicing mitigation!