862 WTPZ42 KNHC 140831 TCDEP2 Tropical Depression Two-E Discussion Number 1 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP022022 400 AM CDT Tue Jun 14 2022 Satellite images indicate that the low pressure system that NHC has been monitoring off the coast of southwestern Mexico has now become a tropical depression. Deep convection started to consolidate near the center around 00Z, and it has increased and expanded since then. In addition, the circulation appears better defined and sufficiently meets the criteria needed for a tropical cyclone. The initial intensity is set at 30 kt, which is a little lower than the latest Dvorak estimates. The depression is currently located a couple of hundred miles south of the coast of southwestern Mexico and it is drifting north-northwestward at 3 kt. This slow and likely erratic motion is expected to continue for another 24 hours as the steering currents remain weak, and the system is expected to remain close to, but offshore of, the southwestern coast of Mexico during that time. After that, however, a turn to the west-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected as a mid-level ridge builds to the north of the cyclone. This motion should take the system gradually away from southwestern Mexico later in the week. Although there is some spread in the models, especially in terms of forward speed, they generally agree on the overall scenario. This track forecast lies near the various consensus aids. The depression appears to be strengthening now, and this intensification trend will likely continue for about 36 hours as the system remains over warm water and in an environment of low to moderate shear and high moisture. After that time, however, the intensification rate is expected to slow due to an increase in easterly shear, and gradual weakening is anticipated to commence around day 3 when the system moves into strong shear and heads toward progressively cooler waters. The NHC intensity forecast lies at the high end of the models in the short term, but falls near the middle of the guidance envelope between 48 and 120 h. Even though the system is forecast to remain well off the coast of Mexico, the associated swells are expected to affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico in a day or so. FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS INIT 14/0900Z 13.6N 102.4W 30 KT 35 MPH 12H 14/1800Z 13.9N 102.4W 40 KT 45 MPH 24H 15/0600Z 14.3N 102.6W 50 KT 60 MPH 36H 15/1800Z 14.6N 103.3W 60 KT 70 MPH 48H 16/0600Z 15.1N 104.3W 65 KT 75 MPH 60H 16/1800Z 15.5N 105.8W 65 KT 75 MPH 72H 17/0600Z 16.1N 107.6W 60 KT 70 MPH 96H 18/0600Z 17.4N 111.1W 50 KT 60 MPH 120H 19/0600Z 18.4N 113.6W 40 KT 45 MPH $$ Forecaster Cangialosi