Tropical Storm “Eugene” forms well south of Baja California

Tropical Storm "Eugene" formed well south of the Baja California Peninsula at 21:00 UTC on July 7, 2017, as the fifth named storm of the 2017 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. While this storm will further intensify over the next 48 hours and become a hurricane, it is expected to remain off the coast until it dissipates on Wednesday, July 12.

At 21:00 UTC on July 7, the center of Tropical Storm "Eugene" was located about 1 230 km (765 miles) south of the southern tip of Baja California. The system is moving northwest near 13 km/h (8 mph), and this motion is expected to continue during the next few days with a slight increase in forward speed, NHC said.

Eugene's maximum sustained winds are currently near 65 km/h (40 mph) with higher gusts. NHC expects strengthening during the next 48 hours and Eugene is forecast to become a hurricane on Sunday, July 9. It's estimated minimum central pressure is currently 1006 hPa.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 110 km (70 miles), mainly to the north and east of the center.

95E at 20:00 UTC on July 7, 2017, one hour before it officially became Tropical Storm "Eugene." Credit: NOAA/GOES-16 (Preliminary Non-Operational Data), CIRA, RAMMB

Eugene is the fifth named storm of the 2017 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. According to CSU meteorologist Philip Klotzbach, the average fifth named storm date for this region is July 22.

Featured image: 95E at 20:00 UTC on July 7, 2017, one hour before it officially became Tropical Storm "Eugene." Credit: NOAA/GOES-16 (Preliminary Non-Operational Data), CIRA, RAMMB