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2 more storms form in busy East Pacific

NOAA / GOES WEST

In this composite satellite image taken this morning. Tropical Storm Darby (far left) can be seen in the Central Pacific. Tropical Storm Estelle is east of Darby; Tropical Depression Eight-E is southeast of Estelle; and Tropical Storm Frank is near Mexico.

Two more tropical cyclones formed in the East Pacific this morning adding to the train of storms, including Tropical Storm Darby, that are churning across the east and central Pacific Ocean.

Tropical Storm Frank, the sixth named storm of the season, formed near Mexico this morning.

Frank had sustained winds of 50 mph as it moved northwest at 17 mph, about 210 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico at 5 p.m.

Frank appears to be headed up the coast of Mexico and will likely reach hurricane status this weekend. It could bring strong winds, rain and waves to Baja California.

Southwest of Frank, Tropical Depression Eight-E, the eighth tropical cyclone of the season, formed south-southwest of Baja California. The storm had winds of 35 mph about 850 miles south-southwest of Baja California. The storm, moving west-northwest at 13 mph, is expected to become Tropical Storm Georgette tonight or Friday.

The storm, heading west-northwest, could briefly reach hurricane status this weekend before weakening over cooler waters early next week.

At 5 p.m., Estelle was slowly weakening, with sustained winds of 45 mph, about 1,350 miles west of Baja California. Estelle was moving west-northwest at 16 mph and is expected to weaken into a post-tropical cyclone by the weekend.

Estelle and the other developing systems are still too far away to predict if they will affect Hawaii’s weather.

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