Tropical Depression-15E which had formed on Wednesday is gradually intensifying into a tropical storm. The tropical storm Odile is strengthening off the coast of southern Mexico and the first tropical storm watch has been posted for the Mexican coast from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo.
As the storm strengthens, the wind speed is likely to increase which may threaten widespread power outages along the coastlines. It may also convert into a hurricane.
This is a relatively short stretch of coast, and for the present the watches do not include the resort cities of Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta.
Till now Odile remains in a favourable environment of low to moderate shear and over very warm waters. The only factor that could limit its strengthening would be its grazing with the coast.
At this stage it is possible for Odile to move in two possible directions.
One option is for the system to move far enough offshore such that only surf and rip currents are possible from near Manzanillo northward to the Baja Peninsula.
In another scenario, Odile may move on a track much closer to the coast, bringing the threat of high winds, surge flooding and torrential rain to the above-mentioned areas.
If Odile decides to take the second course, closer to the coast, the closest approach of the center to the southwest Mexican coasts of Jalisco, Colima and possibly Michoacan would occur late Friday into Saturday, and in the southern Baja peninsula late Sunday into Monday.
