Tropical Storm Priscilla formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Saturday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Priscilla was located at latitude 15.5°N and longitude 106.6°W which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  Priscilla was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the portion of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita, Mexico.

A low pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico strengthened on Saturday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Priscilla.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Priscilla was large.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Priscilla’s circulation on Saturday afternoon.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Storm Priscilla.  Storms near the center of Priscilla began to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.

The strongest winds were occurring in the northern side of Tropical Storm Priscilla.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the northern part of Priscilla’s circulation.  The winds in the southern side of Tropical Storm Priscilla were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Priscilla will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Priscilla will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.   It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Priscilla will intensify during the next 24 hours.  Priscilla could strengthen to a hurricane by Monday.

Tropical Storm Priscilla will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Mexico.  The high pressure system will steer Priscilla slowly toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Priscilla will move a little closer toward the west coast of Mexico.

Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Octave continued to meander far to the south-southwest of Baja California.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Octave was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 123.9°W which put the center about 1065 miles (1720 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Octave was moving toward the north-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.