UPDATE1 -- Tropical Depression One-E forms south of Acapulco, Mexico; forecast to become hurricane

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UPDATE1 -- Tropical Depression One-E forms south of Acapulco, Mexico; forecast to become hurricane

2011-06-08 00:12:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Tropical depression One-E formed in the East Pacific Ocean on early Tuesday morning, making it the first tropical depression of the 2011 Eastern North Pacific Hurricane season, forecasters said.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) had been following the low pressure area since last week, but development was slow to occur despite a favorable environment for development.

As of 8 a.m. PDT (1500 GMT), the center of tropical depression One-E was located about 365 miles (590 kilometers) south of Acapulco, a major sea port on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It is moving towards the northwest at a speed of about 3 miles (6 kilometers) per hour.

"The well-defined low pressure system centered about 365 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico, has now developed sufficiently organized deep convection to be classified as a tropical depression," said NHC hurricane specialist John Cangialosi. "The atmospheric and oceanic environments are quite favorable for intensification."

As of Tuesday morning, maximum sustained winds are near 30 miles (45 kilometers) per hour, with higher gusts. Cangialosi said the center expects One-E to become Tropical Storm Adrian by Wednesday, and a category one hurricane by Friday.

"The cyclone is expected to move over cooler water by the end of the forecast period, which should result in weakening," Cangialosi added, indicating that the tropical cyclone should start to weaken by early Sunday morning.

For now, the tropical cyclone poses no threat to land although it will slowly move closer towards the Pacific coast of Mexico. Forecasts later in the week will determine whether there is a threat to Mexico.

According to figures released in May, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is expecting a below normal hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific this year. The outlook calls for 9 to 15 named storms, with five to eight becoming hurricanes and one to three expected to become a major hurricane (category 3 or higher).

An average Eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 to 16 named storms, with eight to nine becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30, with peak activity from July through September.

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