October 23 2015 6:30 PM EDT Update:
Landfall... Weakened, but still very strong, although max winds will be confined to a very small area.
HURRICANE PATRICIA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP202015 625 PM CDT FRI OCT 23 2015 ...CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE PATRICIA MAKES LANDFALL ALONG THE COAST OF MEXICO WITH 165-MPH WINDS... Satellite images indicate that the center of the eye of Patricia made landfall at approximately 615 PM CDT...2315 UTC...along the coast of southwestern Mexico near Cuixmala. This position is also about 55 miles...85 km...west-northwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The maximum winds were estimated to be 165 mph...270 km/h. SUMMARY OF 615 PM...2315 UTC...INFORMATION --------------------------------------------------- LOCATION...19.4N 105.0W ABOUT 55 MI...85 KM WNW OF MANZANILLO MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165 MPH...270 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...920 MB...27.17 INCHES $$ Forecaster Blake/Stewart
October 23 2015 5:00 PM EDT Update:
After the first pass, the Hurricane Hunters seemed to have suffered instrument issues and have been on standby outside of the storm for a good 2 hours. They are going in for the last pass as we speak. The storm seems to be in a weakening phase, with the eye rapidly contracting, which is good for the residents along the coast. 
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| Radar image from the hurricane hunter aircraft showing the strong eyewall as well as a second, weaker eyewall outside |
October 23 2015 10:00 AM EDT Update:
Sunrise over the beast.
October 23 2015 7:30 AM EDT Update:
Recon did a few more passes through the center before leaving last night. What they found was the strongest storm in the Western Hemisphere with a pressure of 880mb and maxiimum sustained winds of 200mph.
BULLETIN HURRICANE PATRICIA ADVISORY NUMBER 14 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP202015 400 AM CDT FRI OCT 23 2015 ...PATRICIA... ...THE STRONGEST EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC HURRICANE ON RECORD... ...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC LANDFALL IN SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO LATER TODAY... SUMMARY OF 400 AM CDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...17.0N 105.5W ABOUT 160 MI...255 KM SSW OF MANZANILLO MEXICO ABOUT 235 MI...380 KM S OF CABO CORRIENTES MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...200 MPH...325 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 340 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...880 MB...25.99 INCHES
October 23 2015 1:30 AM EDT Update:
While we wait for recon to get into the storm, let's compare the current strongest storm to make landfall to Hurricane Patricia.
Supertyphoon Haiyan (2013)
Max Sustained winds of 195MPH
Min pressure of 895mb
Category 5 Hurricane Patricia
Current winds of 160MPH
Current pressure of 924 mb
October 22 2015 11:00 PM EDT Update:
The hyperactive Pacific has done it. Patricia is now a category 5 hurricane.
BULLETIN HURRICANE PATRICIA ADVISORY NUMBER 12 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP202015 1000 PM CDT THU OCT 22 2015 ...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE PATRICIA TURNING TOWARD SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO... SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...16.2N 105.1W ABOUT 200 MI...320 KM SSW OF MANZANILLO MEXICO ABOUT 295 MI...470 KM S OF CABO CORRIENTES MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...160 MPH...260 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...924 MB...27.29 INCHES
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| Projected Track of Hurricane Patricia brings it into the western coast of Mexico |
October 22 2015 10:45 PM EDT Update:
Air Force Hurricane Hunter Reconnaissance is currently heading to investigate the storm. It is currently over Eastern Mexico and should enter the storm in the next hour. In the mean time, we are awaiting the official NHC advisory on Patricia which will come out around 11PM EDT. I am expecting an upgrade to a category 5 storm. The storm is still improving in satellite appearance with very cold cloudtops and an tiny eye. This storm is a beast and is unfortunately headed right for Mexico.
Original Text  |
| Hurricane Patricia at 10PM October 22 2015 |
Hurricane Patricia, the 20th storm in the East Pacific Basin of the 2015 hurricane system, has very rapidly strengthened over the past 36 hours. What was a minimal tropical storm yesterday off the Mexico coast has strengthened into a monster with estimated winds of 150 MPH. Earlier today, hurricane hunter aircraft entered the storm and measured winds over 130MPH. The storm has a nearly perfect structure, with abundant spiral banding and a pinhole eye surrounded by -70C cloudtops. This is an amazingly powerful storm and is forecast to hit the coast of Mexico as a strong major hurricane. Evacuations are ongoing on the west coast of Mexico, where there are many resort cities. Based on current satellite appearance, the storm probably will be upgraded to a category 5 later tonight.
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| Patricia popping out eye overnight October 21 2015 into the early morning hours of October 22 2015 |
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| Patricia's perfect ring of cold cloudtops around sunset October 22 2015 |
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