Hurricane Season 2011: Tropical Depression 5E

This infrared image of Tropical Depression 5E from the GOES-11 satellite \on July 31 shows a small storm off the western coast of Mexico. Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

GOES-11 Sees Fifth Tropical Depression Form in Eastern Pacific

On Sunday, July 31, the GOES-11 satellite captured the formation of the fifth tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

At 5 a.m. EDT, July 31, Tropical Depression 5-E (TD5E) formed well south of Acapulco, Mexico. GOES-11, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, watched on July 31, as a low pressure area strengthened quickly into tropical depression number 5E. Data from the NOAA managed GOES-11 satellite was processed at NASA's GOES Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

TD 5E was located about 430 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico near 10.7 North and 100.2 West. Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph and it was moving to the west near 9 mph. Minimum central pressure was 1006 millibars.

TD 5E is expected to stay over open ocean and reach hurricane strength by Tuesday. That would give TD5E the name Eugene.

Text credit:Rob Gutro, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.