Tropical Storm Enrique Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Storm Enrique formed south of Mexico on Friday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Enrique was located at latitude 15.0°N and longitude 101.7°W which put it about 325 miles (525 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. Enrique was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

An area of low pressure south of Mexico strengthened on Friday morning and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Enrique. The circulation around Tropical Storm Enrique was organizing on Friday morning. Thunderstorms were developing near the center of Enrique. Storms near the center were generating upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Enrique. The winds were blowing at less than tropical storm force in the other parts of Enrique.

Tropical Storm Enrique will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Enrique will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move southeast of an upper level ridge centered over the southwestern U.S. The ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical storm. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Enrique will intensify during the next 48 hours and it could strengthen to a hurricane during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Enrique will move around the southwestern side of a surface high pressure system over Mexico. The high will steer Enrique toward the west-northwest during the next few days. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Storm Enrique is forecast to move parallel to the west coast of Mexico during the next 48 hours.