Two tropical systems threaten to pound Mexico. Will US get hit?
"There are areas that could get 10 inches of rain regardless of whether it reaches tropical storm status," AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva told USA TODAY. "The main issues will be heavy rainfall and mudslides. Some areas such as Acapulco are still recovering from Hurrcane Erick."
Hurricane Erick, which was actually a Pacific Basin storm, made landfall on Mexico's southern Pacific coast as a Category 3 storm on June 19. The storm brought destructive winds, heavy rains and widespread flooding to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Homes, roads and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged, leaving thousands of people without shelter, food, water and electricity.
How do hurricanes form? An inside look at the birth and power of ferocious storms
A Pacific Basin storm, Tropical Depression Six-E, was also gaining strength and was expected to become Tropical Storm Flossie some time Sunday.
"What will become Flossie is hanging off the western side of Mexico in a very favorable environment for intensification," DaSilva said. "Unlike the storm on the eastern side, Flossie could rapidly intensify and we do expect it to become a hurricane on Tuesday."
DaSilva said Flossie could top out as a Category 2 storm later Tuesday or Wednesday but is expected to remain offshore. Still, it is expected to get close enough to land to bring damaging winds to Mexico's coast.
Tropical Depression 2: Forms off southeastern Mexico, forecast to become tropical storm
The National Hurricane Center names storms in both basins, but pulls from separate lists. The Pacific hurricane season actually starts May 15, while the Atlantic season began June 1.
Both basins are seing named storms ahead of average, DaSilva said. If Tropical Depression 2 does reach tropical storm status, the second named storm for the basin would be more than two weeks early. On average, second is named on July 16.
"Flossie will be sixth named storm in the Pacific, where the average 6th named storm is Aug. 3. So we are two months ahead. This has been a very hot start to the season."
Later in the week, forecasters are watching for disturbances off the Southeast coast of the U.S. starting around the Fourth of July.
"The next thing to watchi is what might happen July 4-7," DaSilva said.
He said a cold front is expected to stall in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Storms often form from stalled cold fronts, he said. DaSilva does not expect a hurricane, although the weather front could bring heavy rains to North Florida. But the threat remains several days out and it is possible it could result in only rip currents, he said.
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 reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
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