Hurricane Barbara forms in Eastern Pacific becoming first of 2025 season. Will US coastline be impacted?

Tropical Storm Barbara became a hurricane on Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Tropical Storm Barbara has strengthened into a hurricane, the first of the eastern Pacific hurricane season.

Barbara is the second named storm of the East Pacific hurricane season, following Alvin which formed in May. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Monday that swells from the storm system are expected to impact parts of southwestern Mexico’s coastline over the coming days. These swells could produce dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents.

Hurricane Barbara was approximately 155 miles (245 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds reaching 75 mph (120 kph). The storm was moving northwest at a speed of 10 mph (17 kph).

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Hurricane Barbara to impact these US states

As of Monday morning, no coastal warnings or watches had been issued. However, the storm was forecast to bring heavy rainfall to the coastal regions of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco, with the potential for localized flooding.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), swells generated by Hurricane Barbara are expected to create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along Mexico’s southwestern coast. Gusty winds are also likely in the affected areas. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are anticipated across Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco, with isolated areas possibly receiving even more. These conditions raise concerns about flooding and mudslides.

Additionally, large waves near local beaches may lead to dangerous rip currents.

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Meanwhile, a few hundred miles west of Barbara, Tropical Storm Cosme is projected to strengthen into a hurricane later on Monday. The storm is currently moving west-northwest at about 6 mph, a path expected to continue through Monday. By Monday night, it is forecast to shift northward at a slower pace, followed by a quicker north-northeastward movement from Tuesday through Wednesday. There will be no impact on the U.S. coastline.

Cosme's maximum sustained winds have reached around 65 mph, with higher gusts reported. However, rapid weakening is expected to begin Tuesday night and continue into Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Cosme gained a bit of strength on Monday but continued to stay far from Mexico's coast, located roughly 630 miles (1,015 kilometers) south-southwest of Baja California’s tip, according to the National Hurricane Center.

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As of 2 a.m. local time, Cosme was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and moving west-northwest at 9 mph (14 kph). The storm is forecast to approach near-hurricane intensity later Monday before shifting northeast and accelerating on Tuesday into Wednesday.

An area of low pressure is forecast to develop later this week south of southern Mexico. The NHC said environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this future low-pressure system, and a tropical depression could form late this week or over the weekend, according to Fox Weather. According to the NHC, it has a medium chance of development over the next seven days.

(With AP inputs)