Tropical Depression Eight-E forms in the East Pacific, set to become Tropical Storm Frank

August 20th, 2010 - 8:06 pm ICT by BNO News  

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — A tropical depression formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean on early Friday morning, forecasters said, saying the storm is expected to become a tropical storm within hours.

Tropical Depression Eight-E, its official name given by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, formed approximately 370 kilometers (230 miles) west of Manzanillo, a city in the Mexican state of Colima. “The depression is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph, 11 km/hr,” said Brennan, a forecaster at the National Hurricane Center.

Brennan said a gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected on Friday evening and Saturday. “Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, 55 km/hr, with higher gusts,” he said. “Some slight strengthening is forecast, and the depression could become a tropical storm later today.”

If it does indeed strengthen into a tropical storm, it would be named Frank. It would be the first time since August 2004 that a tropical storm in the Pacific would be named Frank.

However, the storm is not expected to cause a threat as it is currently moving away from Mexico. “Weakening is expected to begin on Saturday night and Sunday as the system moves over cooler waters,” Brennan said.

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