New tropical depression expected to form in Eastern Pacific by this weekend
This system has been designated as Invest 95E and has a high likelihood of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. If it becomes a tropical storm, it will be named Flossie.
Invest 95E has high chance of development in Eastern Pacific
invest95E could become our next named storm in the Eastern Pacific. If it does continute to develop into a tropical storm, it would get the name "Flossie."
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring a broad area of low pressure several hundred miles off the coast of Central America for tropical development later this week.
This system has a high likelihood of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm, according to the NHC. If it becomes a tropical storm, it will be named Flossie.
This area to watch has been designated as Invest 95E by the NHC. An invest is a naming convention used by the NHC to identify areas it is investigating for possible development into a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next seven days.
WHAT IS AN INVEST DURING HURRICANE SEASON?
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It's been an active start to hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Last week, Hurricane Erick roared ashore along Mexico's southwestern coast as a strong Category 3 storm and caused widespread power outages and left a baby boy dead.
HOW ARE HURRICANES RATED? THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE EXPLAINED
Forecasters are still unsure of the impact Invest 95E might have on the Central American coastline. Earlier computer forecast model data showed Invest 95E tracking into the open ocean, but more recent data shows it staying closer to the coast.
"Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form over the weekend," the NHC wrote in its Tuesday morning outlook.
Heavy rainfall is expected in portions of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala beginning Wednesday and continuing through the weekend. Some areas could see at least 8 inches of rain, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
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It's been an active start to hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific. Climatology records show that the "F" named storm forms, on average, around Aug. 3 in that basin.
A large pocket of warm water off the coast of Central America and southwestern Mexico has been conducive for development. This warm water helped Hurricane Erick to undergo rapid intensification before it made landfall last week.
According to the NHC, rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone's maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period.
WHAT IS RAPID INTENSIFICATION?
"It's got a lot of real estate to work with," FOX Weather Meteorologist Craig Herrera said Tuesday morning, referring to Invest 95E.
Hurricane Barbara was the first hurricane to form in the basin on June 9.
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The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to Nov. 30.