A newly-formed tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific will threaten southwest Mexico with wind and rain this upcoming week.
A low pressure system located about 300 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico strengthened into Tropical Depression 17-E Saturday afternoon PDT. In addition to 17-E, another area is being monitored just south of Guatemala, though development is not imminent with that system.
The newly-formed depression is spinning over water more than sufficient for strengthening but will battle disruptive wind shear as it tracks slowly north toward the southwest Mexican coast.
Despite the wind shear, some strengthening is forecast with so much warm water lying ahead. The depression can become a tropical storm by early Sunday morning. The next tropical storm in the eastern Pacific will acquire the name “Marty.”
With the low heading northward, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller has put the corridor from Acapulco to Puerto Angel on alert for potential impacts next week. However, those to around Manzanillo should also monitor the low in the event it turns to the northwest later in the week after approaching the Acapulco-Puerto Angel area.
Seas will build as the tropical cyclone strengthens and pushes northward over the next few days. How strong it becomes will determine the extend of its damaging winds. Heavy rain, however, will accompany the cyclone regardless of intensity.
“The main concern is that the tropical cyclone will be moving so slowly,” stated Miller. That could lead to a prolonged duration of rain for a given location, significantly putting those communities at risk for flooding and mudslides.
AccuWeather will continue to provide updates on this tropical threat and more details to the impacts the Mexican coast may face.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Andy Mussoline
