Hurricane Barbara has formed in the Eastern Pacific, becoming the first hurricane of the season. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reports that Barbara is currently impacting the southwestern coast of Mexico with dangerous swells and rip currents.
Barbara Intensifies, Poses Coastal Threat
As of Monday, Barbara had strengthened and was located approximately 185 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. Forecasters expect Barbara to continue moving west-northwest at around 12 mph, reaching full hurricane strength before gradually weakening by Tuesday.
The primary concern is the potential for life-threatening conditions along the southwestern Mexican coast. The NHC warns that swells generated by Barbara are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip currents in the coming days. Coastal communities are urged to take precautions.
Rainfall and Flooding Concerns
In addition to the coastal threat, Barbara is expected to bring significant rainfall to the region. The states of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco could receive between 2 and 4 inches of rain, with some areas potentially experiencing up to 6 inches. This rainfall could lead to localized flooding and mudslides, further exacerbating the storm's impact.
Tropical Storm Cosme Emerges
Adding to the concern, Tropical Storm Cosme has also formed in the Eastern Pacific. Cosme is currently located further offshore, approximately 630 miles south-southwest of Baja California, Mexico. While not expected to make direct landfall, Cosme is forecast to intensify to near-hurricane strength this week. It is meandering in the East Pacific and will interact with Barbara throughout its life.
The NHC anticipates a slowing in Cosme's forward speed on Monday, followed by a turn to the northeast and an increase in speed by late Tuesday. Cosme is the third named storm in the Eastern Pacific this season, following Alvin and Barbara. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. Stay tuned to newsrpt.com for continuous updates.