Storm tracker: NHC tracks 2 tropical storms in Pacific near Mexico
The National Hurricane Center in Miami is tracking two tropical storms in the Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storms Barbara and Cosme are being tracked through the Pacific, off the coast of southwestern Mexico, according to the NHC.
Barbara is "near hurricane strength," but there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the NHC stated Monday morning.
Tropical Storm Barbara is expected to dissipate in the ocean by Tuesday night, while Tropical Storm Cosme is expected to dissipate by Wednesday morning.
Another area of low pressure off the coast of Mexico is expected to develop into a tropical depression later this week as "environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system," according to the NWS.
Pacific storm tracker
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Prepare now for hurricanes
Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends.
Develop an evacuation plan : If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.
: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies : Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.
: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions : Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan : NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.
: NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings.
Contributing: Jay Cannon, USA TODAY
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ultimate Southwest Florida hurricane preparation guide 2025
If you live in Southwest Florida, you know that the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Preparation is key. We've amassed and curated everything you need to know about preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm, from what supplies to get, to how to stay safe and what to do after a storm. Scroll down through the page to browse, or jump quickly to the section you want: About hurricane forecasting Latest Florida forecasts Preparing your home and yard All about insurance ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Will a Category 5 hurricane make landfall in Florida in 2025? History says that's unlikely In a rush? 15 things you should know before 2025 hurricane season arrives Infographic: How do hurricanes form? An inside look What's the difference between subtropical storm and tropical storm? Breaking down the hurricane category scale Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones: What are the differences among these storms? What is NOAA? Federal weather, climate agency hit with job cuts has a big mission Meet WeatherTiger: Hurricane expert Ryan Truchelut provides Florida storm forecasts, analyses National Hurricane Center is updating its cone graphic for the 2025 hurricane season 2025 hurricane season will start with Andrea. See list of names and how you can prepare now Florida storm tracker: A hurricane watcher's guide to the latest track and model forecasts during the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Hurricane Season 2025: Good news and bad from the Florida forecast from WeatherTiger It's not too early to prepare yourself and your home for a hurricane. The best time to get ready is before a storm is approaching. With hurricane season starting soon, Florida residents need to prepare. What to know New to Florida and hurricanes? Here's what you should know as hurricane season approaches Here are 10 things you can do to get ahead of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season Taping windows before a storm? Don't fall for these hurricane myths ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location What supplies do you need for a storm? Food and water are only the beginning to building your emergency supplies. Here are other things you should assemble. Hurricane season help: Tips for starting a storm supply list Hurricane preparation: What supplies do you need for a storm? Here's a list Creating hurricane supplies kit important, but what if money is tight? Tips, resources to help What you should do to protect your home during a hurricane Make sure you have safely installed shutters, tips on maintenance What you should know about hurricane shutters and window coverings before a storm Do you need a generator? Here's how to decide How to prepare your house for a hurricane: The ultimate preparedness checklist from USA TODAY Storm prep and other things to do in your Jacksonville yard (and beyond!) this June How to protect your patio from storm damage during hurricane season Follow these guidelines to get your trees, yard ready for hurricane or tropical storm Here is how you can prepare your pool for a hurricane or tropical storm What to do with your boat in Florida if a storm approaches Follow this checklist to protect, secure your boat for hurricanes and tropical storms ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Florida weather alerts (use dropdown menu to see your county) Across Florida: Who should I call for help in an emergency during a hurricane? How do you know if you live in an evacuation zone? Enter your address on this Florida Division of Emergency Management website What's your flood risk? Enter your ZIP code on this FEMA website for information Should you go to a hurricane shelter? What to know before you make your decision Florida Special Needs Registry: If someone in your household has special needs, register with your local emergency management agency here to receive assistance during a disaster Florida Gridlock Guide: Latest traffic reports and live views from the state's highways OFF THE GRID: Florida Power Outage Tracker — use dropdown menu to see your county Can you fill a washing machine with ice for a hurricane? Here's why you shouldn't Power outage safety: Here's what to be aware of before, during and after your power goes out Hurricane hacks for your dog, if you want coffee, in case you lose power or ride the storm Best tips on how to keep your pets safe during a storm How do you prepare your pets for hurricane season and how do you evacuate with animals? Safety tips for navigating around your neighborhood after storm What's still safe to eat and what should be thrown out? After storms, scammers come out. How to avoid getting ripped off in Florida Returning home from evacuating? Safety tips, how to file an insurance claim when you return ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Don't understand insurance? What to know to keep a roof over your head Homeowners' insurance in Florida: What to know ahead of 2025 Hurricane Season Hurricane Season preparedness: What to document for insurance before Hurricane Season 2025 No flood insurance? You could end up on the hook for storm damage Hurricane season tips for homeowners: Five insurance facts to know, when to buy These 3 things aren't covered by Florida homeowners' insurance Dropped from your home or flood insurance policy? Here's what to do Living in Florida? These flood insurance facts could save you thousands Need a new roof for insurance? Here are the main choices in Florida and how they stack up Study: 10-year-old asphalt shingles don't protect against hurricane winds Hurricane hunters save lives, but plane breakdowns put them at risk Not your ordinary aircraft: NOAA Hurricane Hunter jet is designed to collect weather data Can cows predict a hurricane is coming? Debunking one of Florida's strangest superstitions Easy decision: 2024 weather monsters Helene, Milton retired from hurricane names list Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida hurricane guide 2025: How to prepare your SW FL home, yard
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why doesn't the South Atlantic get many tropical storms?
If you look at a map showing the tracks of every tropical depression, subtropical storm, tropical storm and hurricane (called typhoons in the Western Pacific basin and cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere), you will notice something peculiar. There is a complete absence of storm tracks west of South America and very few tracks east of the continent. Why is that? The waters are too cold The lack of activity off the west coast of South America is primarily because of cold waters, AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva says. The Peru Current in the southeastern Pacific Ocean brings cold water unusually far northward along the west coast, too cold for tropical storms and hurricanes. Water temperatures need to be in at least 79 F (26 C) for tropical storms to develop and strengthen. Wind shear is stronger in these regions Another factor is higher wind shear, which tears apart most tropical storms before they can strengthen. Wind shear is particularly high in the Southern Hemisphere, due to a larger temperature gradient. "The waters off Brazil, in the Southern Atlantic, are not as cold, thanks to warmer water coming down from the north, but the wind shear is still too strong to support many tropical storms," DaSilva explained. The 'wave train' is missing in the South Atlantic Another missing piece of the puzzle in the South Atlantic is the African wave train, which pushes clusters of thunderstorms off the continent and over the North Atlantic during hurricane season. These storms can then go on to become a tropical depression, storm or hurricane. "Approximately 80 percent of major North Atlantic hurricanes develop in this area. This conveyor belt of tropical seedlings is absent from the southern Atlantic," DaSilva said. Only one hurricane is known to have traversed this basin Only one hurricane in recorded history has formed in the South Atlantic. In 2004, an unnamed storm, locally called Catarina, formed off the coast of Brazil. The storm made landfall near northeastern Rio Grande do Sul with 100-mph winds, killing three people and causing $300 million (2004 USD) in damage. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, only two additional unnamed tropical storms ever roamed the southern Atlantic basin, in 2010 and 2011. More South Atlantic storms likely missed by official records Other storms shown on the map above are not recognized in NOAA's database. Many of these are subtropical storms, which possess some tropical characteristics but are not fully developed tropical systems. The map also includes tropical storms named by the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center's Marine Meteorological Service (HCMM). The HCMM has been naming subtropical and tropical storms off the Brazilian coast since 2011, but its threshold for naming storms may not be as rigorous as in the rest of the world, so it may name more storms than other agencies, such as NOAA. On the other hand, because the records in the other basins stretch back much longer, 75 to 150 years, there are likely many storms in the South Atlantic that were never tracked. Out of roughly two dozen storms named by HCMM in the last 15 years, fewer than 10 of the named storms tracked since 2011 have made landfall on the South American coast. You may also notice that no storm has ever crossed the equator. This is because, at 0 degrees latitude, the Coriolis force is essentially zero, making it impossible for a tropical system to cross over from one hemisphere to another.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colorado State University updates its 2025 hurricane season forecast
A balm of stifling Saharan dust and tepid water temperatures in the deep Atlantic have subdued early tropical development this hurricane season, but that's no reason to relax. Colorado State University's forecast for above average activity this season remains unchanged in its regular June update. The report, issued June 11, maintains the university's prediction first made in April for 17 named storms and nine hurricanes. Of the nine hurricanes, four are forecast to become major hurricanes of category 3 or higher. An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. While it's not unusual for June to remain quiet — the average first named storm doesn't appear until June 20 — some tropical meteorologists have described the early days of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 as 'sluggish' and 'docile.' Just one area has so far been highlighted by the National Hurricane Center for potential development on June 2 and it never got above a 10% chance before fizzling two days later. Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher with CSU and the lead author of the forecast, said early season activity, or lack thereof, doesn't foreshadow what will happen later in the season. 'Compared to the last few years maybe it's sluggish because the odds of having a Category 5 in the Caribbean are pretty low,' Klotzbach said. More: 2025 hurricane season could see degraded forecasts because of weather service cuts Last year, Beryl formed on June 30. It quickly strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane on July 2 in the southeastern Caribbean, making it the earliest Cat 5 on record in the Atlantic basin. CSU's prediction is partly based on the unlikelihood that a storm-thwarting El Niño will form, and above average sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean Sea and the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. Unlike previous years, the water temperatures in portions of the main development region between Africa and the Caribbean are mostly normal or even slightly cooler than normal. Temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America, continue to be near record warm. Warm water provides fuel for tropical cyclones to form and intensify. Klotzbach called the signals used to make this year's seasonal forecast in some areas of the tropics 'murky' and said there's likely to be a clearer picture of what's in store in CSU's update next month, which is scheduled for release July 9. 'There's still a lot of time for the tropics to lock in on what they are going to be,' Klotzbach said. 'It's kind of a mixed bag. Not every season is busy or quiet, some are dead on average.' Mother Nature is not making this season easy to predict, with the atmosphere expected to be in a neutral phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. An El Niño pattern typically points to a less active season. A La Niña pattern can mean a more active season. Neutral can lean either way, but averages two to three more named storms than a normal season. More: Hurricane hunters save lives, but NOAA plane breakdowns, staffing shortages put them at risk AccuWeather also left its seasonal forecast unchanged in a recent update, although lead hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva said he believes a named storm in June is possible in the northwest Caribbean or Bay of Campeche. AccuWeather forecast between 13 and 18 named storms, seven to ten hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. DaSilva said cooler water temperatures in the main runway between Africa and the Caribbean could mean fewer of the ferocious Cabo Verde hurricanes that form close to Africa and stalk across Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center forecasts for the myriad tropical waves in that area because they can be the seedlings of tropical cyclones, but of the estimated 60 waves that tumble off the coast each hurricane season only a fraction become hurricanes. DaSilva is more fearful of storms rapidly intensifying, especially near a coastline where people may not have as much time to get out of harm's way. 'The Gulf is on fire, and that's a concern,' DaSilva said. 'You might see a tropical storm near the islands and all of a sudden it's a major hurricane on someone's doorstep.' Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@ Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane season 2025 updated forecast released by Colorado State
