Tropical Storm Dolores Strengthening Off the Coast of Mexico

July 12,2015

Highlights

• Tropical Depression Five-E formed Saturday morning and strengthened into Tropical Storm Dolores early Sunday morning.
• Dolores is currently located about 180 miles south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico and is moving west-northwest at 12 mph.
• Tropical Storm Dolores is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Monday night or Tuesday morning and may even become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) later this week.
• This system is expected to continue to track west-northwestward, parallel to the coast of Mexico, into early next week.
• Parts of the Mexican coast may be affected by this system, depending on exactly how close its center gets to the shoreline.

(MORE: Hurricane Season Outlook | Hurricane Central | Tropical Update)

The Latest Status, Forecast Path and Infrared Satellite Maps

Latest Status

Projected Path

Enhanced Satellite

The center of Tropical Storm Dolores is expected to remain offshore. However, a small deviation of the track could bring stronger winds to the coast. Those who have interests along the southern and southwestern coasts of Mexico should monitor this system carefully.
Tropical Storm Dolores may bring heavy rain along the southern and southwestern coast of Mexico over the next few days. More than 5 inches of rain is possible through Wednesday, mainly from the state of Oaxaca northward to Nayarit. High surf and dangerous rip currents are also risks.
We are also monitoring an area farther west in the eastern Pacific for possible development into a tropical depression. The central Pacific is also active with Tropical Storm Iune, which is tracking south of Hawaii, and Tropical Storm Halola, which is well southwest of Honolulu.
MORE: Hurricane Strikes (PHOTOS)