Here's an update on the 'Other Basins', for what it's worth ...

Well, here we are at the end of August and things are really beginning to sizzle in all the basins, as to be expected for this time of year.

Interesting to note however, that so far, ONLY 3 (!) Hurricanes have formed in the northern hemisphere, not counting the typhoons in the WestPac. Cosme, Flossie and Dean. That's it! Hmmm ...

But hold onto your hats and batten down the hatches, 'cause things are beginning to heat up, and in a hurry. The next 8 to 12 weeks should be quite interesting.

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In the Eastern Pacific, we now have TS Gil, currently experiencing some easterly shear, entraining a rather stable environment and soon heading for cooler waters. So it's likely that Gil is now maxing out, and should not pose any problems for anyone, as it continues generally westward.

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TD-11E, however, just upgraded to tropical cyclone status from Invest 95-E, presents a different story altogether. Soon to be upgraded to TS Henriette, it will roughly parallel the west coast of Mexico.

With a somewhat favorable environment and quite warm waters ahead, the depression is expected to gradually strengthen into a Hurricane in about 3 days.

It will likely bring heavy rains and possible tropical storm force winds to the area as it parallels the western coastline, including large cities like Acapulco and Manzanillo.

Henriette may even bring Hurricane conditions to Cabo San Lucas, should the storm move slightly to the right of it's currently forecasted track, as it moves 'straight shooter' style, almost due NW, over the next few days.

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Meanwhile, and most significantly, Typhoon FITOW is currently intensifying in the WestPac, NE of Guam, on a track that will have it threatening Japan in about a week or so.

FITOW will be steadily intensifying over the coming days, and will *still* be intensifying as a 120 Kts. + typhoon by the end of the forecast period. Looks like the folks in the Tokyo area will have to watch this one quite closely.

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Lastly, and rather interestingly, is Invest 92-C, NW of the Hawaiian Islands, which has just crossed the Date Line. If it does develop, it will be named a typhoon, as it has just crossed over into the WestPac basin.

But this invest started out as a 'pure' upper-level low, which brought heavy afternoon convective-type rains to O'ahu about a week ago, as it passed westward, just north of us, retrograding NW towards Midway Island.

But the circulation has since 'worked it's way' down to the surface and then acquired tropical characteristics. Clark has written an excellent intro about this type of 'tropical cyclogenesis scenario' in a previous post, and I'll look for that link and post it later, for those interested in this phenomena.

Although rather far north (30N), the ocean waters are warm here in this part of the world, and if other factors become favorable, I'd give it a fair shot at development.

More on Henriette and Fitow later, as I can find the time.

Warm Aloha, Norm