Depression Rapidly Strengthens To Linda In Eastern Pacific

Things are also getting busy in the Eastern Pacific this evening. While our seventh depression was forming in the Atlantic. The fifteenth tropical depression in the EPAC became the twelfth named storm of the season, Linda. The storm has been rapidly intensifying as well. As of the 2:00 PM PDT (5:00 PM EDT) Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Linda was located some 1225 miles West-Southwest of Cabo San Lucas on the Southern Tip of Baja California.

Maximum sustained winds associated with Linda are currently at 60 miles per hour, which is quite an impressive leap from just being a depression earlier in the day. Gusts are in upwards of 60 knots, or 70 miles per hour while the minimum central pressure is estimated to be down to 997 millibars, or 29.44 inches of Hg according to satellite interpretations. The latest satellite imagery of the Eastern Pacific shows a definite improvement in Linda from earlier in the day. The core has built up a nice area of convection although the overall structure is elongated with much of the outflow and storminess in the northern semicircle.

Fortunately, as of right now, this storm is only a threat to the shipping interests as it is well away from land. We’ll have to see if this becomes a threat for the Hawaiian Islands in the coming days. Linda is forecast to become a minimal hurricane within 48 hours.