1992 Pacific Hurricane Season - Storms - Hurricane Estelle

Hurricane Estelle

The origins of Hurricane Estelle are unclear. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that it may have formed from a tropical wave that began on June 23 off the African coast. The wave began to move at low latitudes and passed the northern part of South America. On July 2, deep convection began to join with the wave. On July 7, a large area of disturbed weather formed about 460 mi (740 km) west of Acapulco. Deep convection developed in to two distinct rainbands late on July 8. Continuing to develop the system was classified as a tropical depression on 0000 UTC July 9. However, the thunderstorm activity was exposed form the center of circulation. As such, the NHC noted that additional intensification was limited due to easterly wind shear and the storm was anticipated the move west-northwest, though did NHC did not the possibility of a more northward track due to possible interaction with powerful Hurricane Darby. Eighteen hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Estelle despite the shear as banding features increased. Gradually intensifying, the storm's outflow improved. Despite a burst of deep convection, the storm maintained its strength for a little while. However, wind shear decrease and as it briefly turned form the west-northwest to west-southwest to the north, Estelle steadily intensified. Early on July 10, an eye developed, and based on this, Estelle was upgraded into a hurricane. Around that time, Estelle turned to the northwest.

Although the eye disappeared from satellite imagery later that day, the storm intensified slightly. Subsequently, a small and distinct eye formed within very deep convection, and Estelle was respectively upgraded into a Category 2 hurricane of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Later on July 11, the NHC reported that Estelle had intensified into a major hurricane. A few hours later, Estelle was upgraded into a Category 4 system as the storm continued to rapidly deepen. Moving northwestward due to interaction with a trough the eye soon disappeared from satellite imagery, and Estelle began a weakening trend. By the afternoon, Estelle was downgraded into a Category 3 system. At 0000 UTC, winds fell below major hurricane force, only to re-intensify back to a major hurricane hours later as the eye returned. Menawhile, Hurricane Estelle's motion slowed. Estelle quickly developed a well-defined eye and an impressive upper-level outflow and Estelle attained its peak intensity of 140 mph (230 km/h). However, the next day the thunderstorms around the eye began to warm. The storm gradually weakened over the next few days as it encountered cooler waters. By early on July 14, Hurricane Estelle was re-classified as a Category 3 hurricane, and shortly afterwards, winds fell below major hurricane strength several hundred miles west of the Baja California Peninsula. Turning west under shallow low-level steering currents, Estelle weakened into a tropical storm on July 15. It weakened into a tropical storm the next day. On 0800 UTC July 17, Tropical Depression Estelle was no more as it had dissipated over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) west of Baja California Sur.