(CMR) Tropical Storm Agatha, the first named storm in the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season, formed early Saturday off Mexico's Pacific coast.
Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen to a hurricane as it turns toward the Mexican coast early next week.
According to the National Hurricane Center, within six hours of being designated Tropical Depression One-E late Friday, Tropical Storm Agatha formed early Saturday morning amid a cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the East Pacific.
Winds within the storm's center stood at 60 mph (97 km/h) at 4 p.m. CDT Saturday, up from 50 mph (80 km/h) during the afternoon hours.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the sections of Mexico on Monday, with tropical storm conditions possible Sunday night.
At 4 p.m. CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Agatha was located over the eastern Pacific Ocean about 170 miles (270 km) southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico. It's moving toward the north-northwest near 5 mph (7 km/h). A turn toward the northeast is forecast to occur late tonight or Sunday. On the forecast track, the center will approach the southern coast of Mexico on Sunday and make landfall there on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 998 mb (29.47 inches).
Agatha will produce heavy rains over portions of southern Mexico by Sunday into Tuesday night.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
