By Bill Deger, Meteorologist
Jun 14, 2012; 12:03 AM ET
The tropics are beginning to come to life in the eastern Pacific.
A cluster of disturbed weather and thunderstorms off the southern coast of Mexico became organized enough to be designated as Tropical Depression Three-E late Wednesday evening.
As of Midnight, eastern time, the depression was located about 500 miles south of Puerto Angel, Mexico, with estimated maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Conditions appear ripe for rapid intensification as the depression moves off to the northwest at less than 10 mph. If strengthening does occur, the system will become known as Tropical Storm Carlotta.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists expect the depression to be upgraded to a tropical storm later this morning.
It is even possible that the system could reach hurricane status by later today or Friday. Because of this possibility, the Mexican government has already issued a Hurricane Watch for the coastline from Barra De Tonala to Punta Maldonado.
Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said earlier Wednesday that the broad area of low pressure that is now Tropical Depression Three-E could eventually impact the Bay of Campeche and Caribbean early next week.
"This large area of low pressure spanning the southwest Gulf of Mexico to the northwest Caribbean will need to be monitored next week for tropical development," Kottlowski said earlier Wednesday.
Meteorologist Meghan Evans also noted earlier Wednesday that due to warm water and light winds, the eastern Pacific was becoming ripe for development.
Current indications are that the system will approach the southern Mexico coast near Puerto Angel at borderline hurricane strength late Friday.
If the storm were to approach Mexico as a hurricane, there could be life-threatening flooding, mudslides, gusty winds and rough surf near the storm's path, according to AccuWeather.com Meteorologists Erik Pindrock and Michael Charnick.
Stay with AccuWeather.com for updates on this system, which could soon be the second hurricane this season in the eastern Pacific basin.
