Pacific Weather System Verges on Becoming Tropical Storm Calvin

A tropical depression churning off the Pacific coast of Mexico may become Tropical Storm Calvin later today or tomorrow, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The center of the depression was 260 miles (418 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 14 miles per hour, according to an advisory released shortly before 4 p.m. Mexico City time yesterday.

The top winds are 35 mph, just under the 39 mph threshold needed to be classified as a tropical storm and given a name. The center said in an update at 8 p.m. New York time that it is issuing advisories on the depression.

In addition to the Pacific system, the hurricane center is tracking areas of disturbed weather in the Atlantic. One area, which stretches from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to Florida, has a 40 percent chance of becoming a tropical or subtropical storm in 48 hours.

Subtropical storms receive names as well as tropical storms. They differ from tropical storms in that their strongest winds may occur away from the center.

The second system, 400 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands, has a 10 percent chance of becoming a storm.

Hurricanes are watched closely because they are a threat to oil and natural gas interests in the Gulf of Mexico and agriculture in the South. Florida is the second-largest citrus producer behind Brazil, while the Gulf accounts for 31 percent of U.S. oil output and 43 percent of refining capacity.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian K. Sullivan in Boston at bsullivan10@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dan Stets at dstets@bloomberg.