Tropical Storm Zeke (1992)
Tropical Storm Zeke was the final named storm of the record-breaking 1992 Pacific hurricane season. Forming out of a tropical wave on October 25, Zeke began as a disorganized depression. Tracking west-northwestward, the system gradually developed organized convection and intensified into a tropical storm. However, it soon entered a high wind shear environment, causing Zeke to weaken to a tropical depression. The following day, the storm re-intensified despite unfavorable conditions and later attained peak winds of on October 29. Rapid weakening followed shortly thereafter as convection dissipated and the center became exposed. During the afternoon of October 30, Zeke degenerated into a remnant low pressure system and dissipated several days later several hundred miles south of Baja California Sur. On October 29, tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for portions of the Mexican coastline; however, these were canceled the following day due to the storm's rapid weakening. Although the storm did not move over land, its outer bands brought locally heavy rain and gusty winds to Sinaloa and Jalisco. Meteorological history Tropical Storm Zeke originated from a tropical wave that was first identified off the west coast of Africa on October 6, 1992. Initially, well-organized convection was associated with the system as it tracked westward; however, once over the Caribbean Sea, shower and thunderstorm activity diminished. Between October 21 and 23, the poorly defined wave moved across Central America and entered the Pacific Ocean. Over the following few days, convection gradually increased and the system became better organized. On October 25, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to classify it as Tropical Depression Twenty-Seven-E, at which time the storm was situated roughly south of the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Upon being classified, the depression was relatively disorganized, but deep convection had maintained itself near the center of circulation. Throughout October 25, banding features developed and the upper-level outflow became better established. In response to a ridge to the east, the depression tracked in a general west-northwest direction. Intensification was likely as the system was forecast to remain within an environment characterized by low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures. Later that day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Zeke, the record-breaking twenty-fourth named storm of the year. Within several hours of being upgraded, Zeke began to degrade for unknown reasons, with convection lessening around the center. Increasing westerly wind shear, associated with a mid to upper-level trough approaching the west coast of the United States, later caused the system to weaken further; however, Zeke managed to maintain tropical storm intensity until the morning of October 27. As Zeke continued to be hampered by strong shear, it gradually began to turn towards the north as the trough that caused it to weaken moved further east. Late on October 27, convection redeveloped over the center of circulation, allowing the storm to re-attain tropical storm intensity. The strengthening followed the passage of a shortwave trough; however, shear over the system remained strong. Despite the unfavorable conditions, Zeke maintained its