000
ABPZ30 KNHC 011449
TWSEP 
MONTHLY TROPICAL WEATHER SUMMARY
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 AM PDT SUN JUN 1 2008
 
FOR THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC...EAST OF 140 DEGREES WEST LONGITUDE..
 
ONE TROPICAL CYCLONE...TROPICAL STORM ALMA...DEVELOPED DURING MAY. 
ALTHOUGH ON AVERAGE A NAMED STORM FORMS ABOUT EVERY OTHER MAY...THIS
IS THE NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT ONE HAS FORMED DURING THE MONTH.  

ALMA ORIGINATED FROM A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE THAT FORMED EARLY
ON 27 MAY ABOUT 250 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE COAST OF NICARAGUA.  THE
LOW SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED SLOWLY EASTWARD.  THE ASSOCIATED SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY BECAME BETTER ORGANIZED...AND EARLY ON 29 MAY
A TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMED ABOUT 100 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF CABO
BLANCO COSTA RICA.  THE DEPRESSION TURNED NORTHWARD AND REACHED
TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH LATER THAT DAY.  ALMA REACHED ITS PEAK
INTENSITY OF 65 MPH WHILE CENTERED ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
MANAGUA NICARAGUA.  A FEW HOURS LATER...ALMA MADE LANDFALL AT THAT
SAME INTENSITY ALONG THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC COAST OF NICARAGUA
NEAR LEON.  AFTER LANDFALL...ALMA CONTINUED NORTHWARD AND WEAKENED
TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OVER HONDURAS.  THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION
OF ALMA DISSIPATED OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN HONDURAS ON 30
MAY.

ALMA WAS THE FIRST TROPICAL STORM TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE 
PACIFIC COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA SINCE 1949...AND WAS THE FIRST 
TO DO SO ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST OF NICARAGUA.  INITIAL MEDIA
REPORTS INDICATE THAT AT LEAST ONE FATALITY OCCURRED IN NICARAGUA
DUE TO FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINS.

SUMMARY TABLE

NAME           DATES             MAX WIND (MPH)       DEATHS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TS ALMA        29-30 MAY             65                 1*

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* PRELIMINARY TOTAL

NOTES...DATES BASED ON COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (UTC)
 
$$
FORECASTER BROWN/BLAKE/KNABB/FRANKLIN