000
WTPZ33 KNHC 280841
TCPEP3
BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Rachel Advisory Number 5
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP182026
300 AM CST Mon Sep 28 2026
...RACHEL MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OFFSHORE OF SOUTHWESTERN
MEXICO...
SUMMARY OF 300 AM CST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...13.4N 100.4W
ABOUT 245 MI...395 KM S OF ACAPULCO MEXICO
ABOUT 465 MI...750 KM SE OF MANZANILLO MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 300 AM CST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rachel was
located near latitude 13.4 North, longitude 100.4 West. Rachel is
moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). A faster
west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days. On
the forecast track, the center of Rachel is expected to remain well
offshore of the coast of southern Mexico. However, tropical storm
conditions are possible along the coast of Mexico within the
tropical storm watch area by Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.
Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Rachel is
forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch
area by Tuesday.
SURF: Swells generated by Rachel will begin affecting portions of
southern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days. These
swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 600 AM CST.
Next complete advisory at 900 AM CST.
$$
Forecaster Mahoney
000
WTPZ43 KNHC 280842
TCDEP3
Tropical Storm Rachel Discussion Number 5
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP182026
300 AM CST Mon Sep 28 2026
Rachel has intensified since the previous advisory. The METOP-C
Advanced Scatterometer sampled the center and western half of the
system around 0431z, and found reliable winds to 40 kt. This is in
agreement with the objective satellite intensity estimates from
UW-CIMMS and a subjective Dvorak of T3.0/45 kt from TAFB. Therefore,
the initial intensity is set at 40 kt for this advisory, and there
is more confidence in the initial position of the cyclone.
The cyclone is now moving toward the west-northwest at 290/7 kt, and
it appears Rachel is starting to move a bit faster. A deep-layer
ridge building over north-central Mexico is forecast to steer the
cyclone west-northwestward, with some acceleration in forward motion
through early next week. On Thursday, a trough over the southwestern
United States will weaken the ridge somewhat, leading to diminished
steering flow near Rachel and a deceleration in the cyclone's
west-northwestward motion. The new initial position, informed by the
aforementioned scatterometer pass, lies to the right of the previous
official forecast track. As a result, the new forecast is adjusted
to the right of the previous one, and blends toward the most recent
Google DeepMind (GDM) and HFIP Corrected Consensus Approach (HCCA)
guidance.
Rachel is apparently less-than-hindered by the northeasterly
vertical wind shear diagnosed near the tropical storm. All other
environmental parameters support intensification, and the new
intensity forecast is largely an update of the previous one. The
intensity forecast is again on the higher end of the guidance
envelope, and blends the GDM and HCCA solutions. Rachel is forecast
to become a hurricane on Tuesday. There is some uncertainty beyond
72 hr, with some of the guidance showing weakening during that time.
It is not entirely clear to me why weakening would occur during this
time-frame, given favorable dynamics and thermodynamics indicated
across the deterministic global model fields. Rachel could track
over some of the cool wake from Hurricane Polo, though recent
drifter data captured vertical profiles that show high ocean heat
content (OHC) persists in the region. Given the uncertainty, and the
shift in track more east of the cool wake, I show Rachel maintaining
its intensity from 72 through 120 hr.
Key Messages:
1. Although the core of Rachel is forecast to remain offshore of
Mexico, tropical storm force winds are possible along a portion of
the coast of southwestern Mexico in the Tropical Storm Watch area
on Tuesday.
2. Large waves could produce life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions along portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during
the next several days.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INIT 28/0900Z 13.4N 100.4W 40 KT 45 MPH
12H 28/1800Z 13.9N 101.7W 50 KT 60 MPH
24H 29/0600Z 14.9N 103.5W 55 KT 65 MPH
36H 29/1800Z 16.1N 105.3W 60 KT 70 MPH
48H 30/0600Z 17.3N 106.6W 70 KT 80 MPH
60H 30/1800Z 18.2N 107.6W 80 KT 90 MPH
72H 01/0600Z 19.0N 108.5W 85 KT 100 MPH
96H 02/0600Z 19.6N 109.2W 85 KT 100 MPH
120H 03/0600Z 20.4N 110.0W 85 KT 100 MPH
$$
Forecaster Mahoney