The latest storm information on September 2 from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Hurricane Kiko in the eastern Pacific has maximum sustained winds of up to 96 km/h, with stronger gusts from the afternoon of September 1, with the center of the storm about 1,987 km west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.
The hurricane center said Kiko is expected to move slowly westward between Central America and Hawaii (USA) over the next few days and will strengthen into a hurricane on September 2, with winds of 137 km/h, then continue to strengthen, with winds of up to 160 km/h on September 3.
"The storm is expected to gradually strengthen and Kiko is expected to be a hurricane in the next few days," the bulletin stated.
In addition to Hurricane Kiko, the area off the southwest coast of Mexico has a strong area of showers and thunderstorms, with a forecast to become a tropical depression by midweek.
The system is moving west-northwest, with an 80% chance of strengthening over the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of strengthening over the next 7 days.
The next storm on the list of storms in the eastern Pacific is Lorena.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say the potential system of Hurricane Lorena could change course and approach the Baja California coast later this week. Heavy rains are forecast along the Baja California Sur, which could lead to flash flooding, especially in mountainous areas.
If it forms, Lorena will be the 12th storm of the winter Pacific typhoon season. The eastern Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, two weeks earlier than the hurricane season between the Pacific and Atlantic. The typhoon seasons all last until November 30.
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, an low pressure off the coast of Africa forming on August 31 is being closely monitored as it begins moving westward into the Atlantic. This low pressure is located in western Guinea-Bissau, Africa.
Forecasters from the US National Hurricane Center said that environmental conditions are favorable for the formation of a tropical depression over the weekend. As of the afternoon of September 1, the chance of this system becoming a storm or tropical depression within 48 hours is low, but within 7 days, the chance of a storm appearing is 50%.
The next storm name for the Atlantic hurricane season is Hurricane Gabrielle. Based on the most recent 30-year cycle, the seventh storm of the Atlantic hurricane season typically appears from August 29.
