Tropical Depression Seventeen-E formed south of Mexico on Friday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Depression Seventeen-E was located at latitude 12.7°N and longitude 100.5°W which put it about 505 miles (810 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. The depression was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.
The circulation around a low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico exhibited more organization on Friday morning and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Seventeen-E. The circulation around Tropical Depression Seventeen-E was still organizing. More thunderstorms developed near the center of the depression. More thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical depression.
Tropical Depression Seventeen-E will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. The tropical depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Depression Seventeen-E is likely to intensify steadily during the next 36 hours. The depression is likely to intensify to a tropical storm later today and it could strengthen to a hurricane on Saturday.
Tropical Depression Seventeen-E will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over Mexico during the next few hours. A large upper level trough approaching the west coast of the U.S. will cause the high pressure system to weaken during the weekend. When the high pressure system weakens, the southern part of the upper level trough will turn the tropical depression toward the north-northwest. On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Seventeen-E could approach the west coast of Mexico by later on Sunday. The tropical depression could be a hurricane when it approaches the coast of Mexico. Watches could be issued for a portion of the coast later on Friday or on Saturday morning.