At a Glance

A tropical depression has formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean well south of Baja California.This is the first April Eastern Pacific tropical depression on record.This system is expected to slowly migrate toward the northwest, remaining far from land.

Tropical Depression One-E has formed well south of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, becoming the first April tropical depression on record in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

This tropical depression is located over 700 miles southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula.

Satellite imagery shows the area of thunderstorms become better organized and a well-defined center developed Saturday morning.

Current Storm Status and Projected Path

(The highest cloud tops, corresponding to the most vigorous convection, are shown in the brightest red colors. The red-shaded area denotes the potential path of the center of the tropical cyclone.)

Tropical Depression One-E will continue to track northwestward and is no threat to land.

Dry air is already wrapping into this system and will prevent much additional strengthening, although it could briefly become a tropical storm. Conditions will become more unfavorable on Sunday and is expected to become a remnant low by Sunday night.

If it manages to strengthen to a tropical storm, it would be named Amanda, the first name of the 2020 Eastern Pacific hurricane season.

A First for April

This system is the first April tropical depression on record in the Eastern Pacific Basin in reliable records since weather satellites began regularly watching the tropics in the late 1960s.

The earliest Eastern Pacific tropical depression or storm occurred just three years ago, when formed off the coast of El Salvador and Guatemala on May 9, 2017.

The next May, formed well southwest of Los Cabos, Mexico, on May 10, 2018.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season generally runs from , roughly two weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season.

Colorado State University tropical scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach noted in 2017 that there appeared to be .

Last year, the A storm, Hurricane Alvin, didn't first become a tropical storm until June 26, the first named storm forms, according to the NHC.

Since 2000, 21 named storms have developed in May in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, an average of at least one each May. Nine of those storms became hurricanes.

Tracks of the 21 named storms that developed in May in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from 2000 through 2019.

(NOAA)

The last time Amanda was used in the Eastern Pacific Ocean was also noteworthy.

was the strongest May hurricane on record in either the Eastern Pacific or Atlantic basins, reaching peak estimated intensity of 155 mph, just shy of Category 5.

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