Hurricane Irma has quickly weakened today, and is now a tropical depression. Irma is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low on Tuesday as it is beginning to lose tropical characteristics. Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose is weakening as it contends with strong wind shear, and Tropical Depression Fifteen-E has formed in the Eastern Pacific and it is not likely to strengthen much.

Irma now a tropical depression, expected to become a remnant low on Tuesday

As of 11:00 p.m. EDT Monday, Tropical Depression Irma was centered near 32.4°N 84.9°W and was moving northwestward at about 15 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 30 knots (35 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 988 mb. Irma is beginning to lose its tropical characteristics. The circulation of Irma is exposed to view with nearly all of the deep convection north of the center, which is decreasing in intensity. Irma will not be a tropical cyclone for much longer. Irma is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low by late tomorrow as convection decreases and Irma begins to acquire extratropical characteristics. Irma is expected to continue on its current northwestward motion and eventually dissipate over northwestern Tennessee by Wednesday morning. Although Irma is losing tropical characteristics, heavy rainfall is possible throughout the Southeastern United States in association with the depression.

Jose battling wind shear

Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose is battling wind shear and is no imminent threat to land. As of 11:00 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Jose was centered near 27.1°N 69.5°W and was moving northeastward at about 6 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 75 knots (85 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 982 mb. Jose continues to produce vigorous deep convection, although the cyclone is not that well organized. Jose should be able to survive the shear, although it may weaken to a tropical storm during the next few days. Conditions could become a little more favorable by the weekend, and the official National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast calls for the possibility of re-intensification at that time. Jose is expected to execute a clockwise loop and eventually turn back westward. Although the majority of the model guidance predicts that Jose will turn out to sea without making landfall in the United States, this scenario cannot be ruled out completely.

Sheared Tropical Depression Fifteen-E forms in Eastern Pacific

In the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Depression Fifteen-E has formed in association with the remnants of Hurricane Katia. As of 8:00 p.m. PDT, the depression was centered near 16.2°N 113.6°W and was moving westward at about 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 25 knots (30 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 1008 mb. The depression is battling strong wind shear, with the limited deep convection to the west of the exposed low-level center. The depression is not expected to become a tropical storm, but if it does, it would be named Max. Fifteen-E is no threat to land.

I will be back with another post tomorrow.