Hurricane forecasters up chances for another Atlantic tropical cyclone

USA Today

a day ago

The system is expected to bring heavy rains to parts of Mexico and Guatemala over the next few days.
A storm system brewing off the east coast of Mexico now has a 70% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center said on June 28, an increase from previous forecasts.
The storm, located in the Bay of Campeche near the Mexican coastline, was showing signs of organization with thunderstorms and showers and could become a tropical depression as early as the afternoon in the bay, forecasters said. Tropical storm warnings and watches could be needed in parts of Mexico by the end of the day.
The storm system is expected to move north-northwest toward Mexico and move inland by June 30.
"Regardless of tropical cyclone formation, locally heavy rains are ongoing over portions of Guatemala and southeastern Mexico, and will continue during the next few days," the hurricane center said.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Tropical Storm Andrea became the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 24.
Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October.
See the current storms in the Atlantic
System expected to form in the Pacific
Meanwhile in the Pacific, another system offshore from southern Mexico has a 90% chance of cyclone formation within a week, the hurricane center said. The system is located a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
"Environmental conditions appear conducive for development, and a tropical depression is expected to form during the next day or so while the system moves slowly west-northwestward off the coast of southern Mexico," the hurricane center said.
Tropical cyclone warnings could be issued later on June 28, the hurricane center 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.
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.
Prepare now for hurricanes: Here's what you should do to stay safe before a storm arrives