Invest 95E expected to become Tropical Storm Flossie as system becomes better organized in Eastern Pacific
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 expected to become Tropical Storm Flossie later this week
Invest 95E 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.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring an area of low pressure a few 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.
According to the NHC, thunderstorms within Invest 95E are becoming better organized, and it now has a medium chance of forming in the next two days and a high chance of developing in the next week.
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 during the next few days, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form by late this weekend," the NHC wrote in a Wednesday 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?
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.