image: On Oct. 21 NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Vicente that showed it was a small storm. view more
Credit: Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)/NOAA
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of the small tropical storm named Vicente.
Vicente developed on Friday, Oct. 19 as Tropical Depression Twenty-Three-E (TD 23E). TD23E formed about 85 miles (135 km) west-southwest of Puerto San Jose Guatemala and moved west-northwest while intensifying. Later in the day TD23E strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Vicente, but the storm was moving slowly. Because of the slow movement, heavy rains fell over portions of El Salvador, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. Vicente then moved west
On. Oct. 21, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Vicente and captured a visible image of the storm. VIIRS showed that the storm was small in diameter. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center. Vicente appeared less organized in the image than it did hours earlier.
On Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Fla. noted that the center of Tropical Storm Vicente was located near latitude 14.9 degrees north and longitude 100.8 degrees west. Vicente is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph) and a turn to the northwest is expected today followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 kph) with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast, and Vicente is expected to become a tropical depression by tonight or Tuesday.
On Oct. 22 although there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the NHC cautioned that interests along the southern and southwestern coasts of Mexico should monitor the progress of Vicente. On the forecast track, the center of Vicente is expected to approach the southwestern coast of Mexico on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The cyclone's circulation is expected to dissipate near the southwestern coast of Mexico by Wednesday, Oct. 24.
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For updated forecasts, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov