Weather system just east of Central North Pacific Basin better organized

An area of low pressure located just east of Central North Pacific Basin has become better organized, National Hurricane Center forecasters in Miami said Friday.

Forecasters say the weather system, located 2,000 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California and just east of the Central North Pacific Basin, now has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within five days and a 40 percent chance of formation during the next 48 hours.

Environmental conditions are expected to remain conducive for tropical cyclone development during the next day or two as the low moves slowly toward the northwest, forecasters said. After that time, development is less likely because of a disturbance to the northeast.

The area of low pressure as of Friday morning was located between 130 degrees west and 140 degrees west longitude, just within the Eastern Pacific Basin. The Central North Pacific Basin covers the area north of the equator spanning from 140 degrees west longitude to the International Date Line.

Should the storm be the first to form within the Eastern Pacific Basin, it will be named “Andres.” If it crosses into the Central North Pacific Basin before forming into a tropical cyclone it will be named “Ela.”

The center is also monitoring a large area of cloudiness and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located about 1,300 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The system has become better organized and environmental conditions are expected to remain conducive for development over the weekend as the system moves toward the west-northwest.

Forecasters gave the weather system a 80 percent chance of forming into a tropical cyclone within five days and a 50 percent chance of developing within the coming 48 hours.

The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The East Pacific hurricane season began May 15.