Tropical Depression Nineteen-E Expected to Strengthen
By: Jamilia Epping
Tropical Depression Nineteen-E, which formed in the Eastern Pacific Wednesday afternoon, is gradually strengthening.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the storm, located about 2,110 miles southeast of the Big Island and 1,420 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja, Calif. as of 11 a.m. Hawai’i time. TD Nineteen-E was traveling at 15 miles per hour as it circulated wind speeds of 35 mph.
The area of low pressure has become better organized since Thursday, according to NHC officials.
TD Nineteen-E is the nineteenth storm in the eastern North Pacific this season.
NHC officials say TD Nineteen-E is in an environment for favorable strengthening conditions and is expected to become a tropical storm by Friday night, with the potential of becoming a hurricane on Sunday.
A general western motion is expected to continue with a decrease in forward speed through Saturday. On Sunday, forecasters predict a turn toward the west-northwest.
While very early in the forecast to anticipate the exact path or strength TD Nineteen-E will work up to, Big Island Now will bring you the latest information.