Andres Weakens; Hurricane Blanca Develops

By Brian Thompson, Meteorologist

June 2,2015; 8:01PM,EDT

 

 

Andres has begun to weaken over the eastern Pacific, but a new threat has developed closer to Mexico.
Andres became a tropical storm Thursday in the eastern Pacific, becoming the first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific season, which runs from May 15 to Nov. 30.
A satellite loop of the eastern Pacific, showing the west-northwestward track of Andres and the newly formed tropical depression near southern Mexico. (NOAA)
Andres strengthened significantly on Sunday, reaching major hurricane status, but has started to weaken as the storm tracks to the west into an area of cooler ocean water well to the southwest of Baja California.

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Andres is expected to stay well away from the Mexican coastline. However, there will still be higher surf and an increased risk for rip current early this week along the coast of Baja California and western Mexico. This includes the cities of San Carlos, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan.

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As of Tuesday afternoon, Tropical Storm Blanca became a hurricane after taking shape off the coast of southern Mexico. The tropical system will threaten coastal areas into this weekend as it moves slowly over the open ocean.

Blanca will have a greater chance to bring direct impacts to Mexico as it strengthens throughout the week.
The storm will meander off the coast of southern Mexico for the next 48 hours before moving northwestward during the second half of the week.
The expected track will take this new tropical threat parallel to the Mexico coastline, keeping the worst conditions well offshore; however, large surf and dangerous rip currents will increase as the week progresses along the coast of Mexico from Acapulco to near Puerto Vallarta.
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While the heaviest rain will remain offshore, the increase in moisture will lead to enhanced showers and thunderstorms across parts of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco this week. Flooding is expected to be localized.
In the longer range, a track toward Baja California is possible; however, tracking over cooler waters would likely result in significant weakening before any landfall were to occur. Regardless, there will be an increased risk for showers and thunderstorms across the southern Baja this weekend and early next week.
Meteorologists Eric Leister and Courtney Spamer contributed to this story.