The 21st tropical depression of the 2015 Eastern Pacific hurricane season formed Wednesday morning several hundred miles off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
The 21st tropical depression of the 2015 Eastern Pacific hurricane season formed Wednesday morning several hundred miles off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
Tropical Depression 21-E was located about 420 miles south-southwest south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and tracking north at 2 mph as of Wednesday afternoon, National Hurricane Center meteorologists said. It featured maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Some strengthening is forecast through Friday and forecasters say the depression could be upgraded to Tropical Storm Rick Thursday.
How strong the storm will get remains unknown, forecasters said. Weather models are currently sending “mixed signals” on the potential for intensification in the short term because although water temperatures are warm in the area, southeasterly shear is likely to affect the cyclone during the next couple of days. The storm is expected to peak with 50 mph winds on Friday.
Thereafter, forecasters expect increased wind shear to weaken the storm to a remnant low by Monday evening.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Pacific, no tropical cyclones are expected to form during the next five days.
In the Central Pacific, which is where Hawaii is located, tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Friday afternoon, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.
The Central Pacific and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30.
Get more hurricane-related content, including preparation tips, evacuation info and daily tropical weather updates, on our hurricane season page, sponsored by Clark Realty, at www.westhawaiitoday.com/hurricane-season-2015.