Tropical Storm Paul / Eastern Pacific 2006

Information on Tropical Storm Paul

09AM 10/26/06 - Paul has degenerated into a tropical depression over mainland Mexico. No further Insider information will be posted here. Automated information from the NHC below will continue to be updated every 6 hrs.

All Watches and Warnings for Tropical Depression Paul have been canceled.

09PM MDT 10/24/06 Tropical Storm Paul continues to weaken as it bends northeastward about 70 miles east of Cabo San Lucas. The storm's 09AM position was 23.0N 108.8W and it was moving 50° at 12kt. Central barometric pressure is estimated at 1001mb with winds of 40 to 50kts. Paul has moved east of Baja Sur and will make landfall on mainland Mexico later today. Paul is expected to degenerate quickly into a Tropical Depression once over land.

The Bisbee Fishing Tournament scheduled to begin Wednesday will be postpone one day to allow for the storm to pass. Our sources tell us that the Cabo San Lucas port will be closed tomorrow. This is a standard precaution in the event of a passing storm.

Jeep from Pescadero tells us, "About 8:30PM light rain began and steadily increased to moderate with periods of heavier rain.  The wind is from the SSE and is freshening, currently 20 -25 mph"

At 9PM La Paz has partly cloudy skies. Los Cabos weather radar indicates that rain may have already begun on East Cape. Our Cabo San Lucas office reports the winds have subsided a bit from earlier in the evening but now the rain is coming down steadily. Click here for Los Cabos Weather radar.

TS Paul, although passing very close to Baja Sur, maintains the record of Hurricane Olivia in 1967. Olivia is the latest in the season tropical cyclone to make landfall in Baja on October 14th, 1967. Three other tropical cyclones passed close to Baja after October 14th, one tropical storm in 1951 came close on November 29th. (Click here for the records)

TD 17E formed 570 miles SE of Cabo San Lucas from a persistent area of thunderstorms that was spawned near the southern Mexico coast. TD17E was upgraded to Tropical Storm Paul on the morning of 10/21 some 515 miles SE of Cabo San Lucas. Paul was upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane in the 9PM release from the NHC on 10/22. Paul strengthened to a Category 2, almost Cat 3, on the morning of 10/23. Paul was downgraded to a Tropical Storm on the morning of 10/24, some 306 miles SSW of Cabo San Lucas. Paul passed within 50 miles of the Baja Sur coastline on Tuesday night, brining winds, heavy rain and a significant electrical storm.

(Forecasts are issued by the NHC 4 times per day at 9 and 3 o'clock MDT. Advisories are issued at 7, 11,2 and 5 o'clock when necessary.)
 

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Track/SST °C	Storm Forecast Track	Sat IR
Automatically Updated Information from the National Hurricane Service   La Paz VHF Radio Etiquette For cruisers in the Sea of Cortez La Paz has often served as a base to orbit and explore the Sea from. Monday through Saturday there is a Cruiser's Net on Channel 22A at 8AM. There you can listen in for the latest weather, tides, marina information and even get assistance for parts and supplies you need to find. Since the beginning of the current conflict in the Middle East there has also been a cracker barrel style news, starting at 7:30AM on Channel 21. Channel 22A has been assigned as a courtesy to the cruisers as a hailing frequency. This is only as a courtesy by the Port Captain and SCT. Those sailing in the Sea of Cortez near La Paz and on the Pacific Coast near Magdalena Bay should be aware that their use of channel 22A is being monitored by most cruisers in La Paz and are therefore asked to use another channel. As an unwritten rule of thumb channel 22A quiet hours are 9PM to 7:30AM for hailing. Over the past four years a business or persons has been using scrambled radios at high power that bleed into channel 22A. Several persons have taken it upon themselves to click out this annoying 'bubble boy'  as he/she has become known. I recently spoke with a member of the SCT regarding the issue. Here is his reply: "Channel 22A is officially an open frequency, designated as a courtesy to the cruising fleet of La Paz. The person(s) transmitting scrambled communications MAY be on a harmonic frequency, and although it may be rude, have every right to broadcast on that frequency. However, persons intentionally interfering with ANY marine VHF radio broadcast are in violation of the law. The penalty ranges from misdemeanor to felony depending, and results range from  immediate deportation without appeal to imprisonment and fines." So mind you manners and remember, you are a guest in Mexico.

Aletta • Bud • Carlotta • Daniel • Emilia • Fabio • Gilma • Hector • Ileana • John • Kristy • Lane • Miriam • Norman • Olivia • Paul