Tropical Storm Priscilla Develops Near West Coast of Mexico

Tropical Storm Priscilla developed near the west coast of Mexico on Sunday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Priscilla was located at latitude 18.6°N and longitude 104.0°W which put it about 55 miles (90 km) southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Priscilla was moving toward the north at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was  1004 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula, Mexico.

A distinct low level center of circulation formed within a cluster of thunderstorms near the west coast of Mexico on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Priscilla.  Thunderstorms were forming near the center of circulation.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were also developing and the bands were revolving around the center of Priscilla.  Storms near the center were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the north of the tropical storm.  The circulation around Priscilla was small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Storm Priscilla will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  The center of Priscilla will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will be in a region where the upper level winds are not too strong and there will not be a lot of vertical wind shear.  However, the center of Tropical Storm Priscilla will be very close to Mexico.  The circulation around Priscilla will begin to pull drier air from over the land into the tropical storm.  Tropical Storm Priscilla could strengthen during the next few hours, but it is likely to weaken quickly when the center moves over Mexico.

Tropical Storm Priscilla will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Mexico.  The high will steer Priscilla on a track that will be a little to the west of straight north.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Priscilla will make landfall on the west coast of Mexico between Tecoman and Manzanillo within a few hours.  Priscilla could drop locally heavy rain which could cause flash floods in some places.