Tag Archives: Gulf of Tehuantepec

Tropical Depression Forms South of Mexico

Tropical Depression Eleven-E formed over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Tuesday afternoon.  A Tropical Storm Warning and a Tropical Storm Watch were issued for portions of the coast of Mexico.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Depression Eleven-E was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 94.6°W which put the center about 85 miles (135 km) south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexoco.  The tropical depression was moving toward the north at 5 m.p.h. (8 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 1006 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Angel to Boca de Pijijiapan, Mexico.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Boca de Pijijiapan to the Mexico/Guatemala border.

A low pressure system over the Gulf of Tehuantepec strengthened on Tuesday afternoon and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Eleven-E.  A distinct low level center of circulation was evident on visible satellite images.  The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of the tropical depression.  There were also thunderstorms in bands in the eastern periphery of the circulation around Tropical Depression Eleven-E.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical depression.

Tropical Depression Eleven-E will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  The tropical depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over Mexico.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical depression.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent some intensification.  Tropical Depression Eleven-E is likely to intensify to a tropical storm during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Eleven-E will move around the eastern side of a trough of low pressure that extended from central Mexico to the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The trough of low pressure will steer the tropical depression slowly toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Depression Eleven-E will make landfall on the coast of Mexico near Salina Cruz in about 24 hours.

Tropical Depression Eleven-E is likely to be a tropical storm when it makes landfall on the south coast of Mexico.  It will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Oaxaca and Chiapas.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.

Tropical Depression Likely to Form South of Gulf of Tehuantepec

A tropical depression is likely to form over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. A broad area of low pressure was located south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec on Wednesday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of the broad area of low pressure was located at latitude 12.0°N and longitude 96.0°W which put it about 270 miles (435 km) south of Puerto Angel, Mexico. The broad area of low pressure was moving toward the north at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

A broad area of low pressure over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec was visible on early morning satellite images. Thunderstorms were forming in bands in the eastern and southern parts of the low pressure system. The thunderstorms were beginning to generate upper level divergence that was pumping mass away from the system. The strongest winds were occurring in the bands of thunderstorms.

The broad area of low pressure will be in an area favorable for the development of a tropical depression during the next several days. The low pressure system will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will be in an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.. The circulation around the low pressure system is likely to organize gradually and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week. After a tropical depression forms, it could move north toward Mexico and strengthen.