Storm Aletta named as first tropical storm to strike Mexico coast top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Aletta was upgraded to a category 4 hurricane on Friday at 11am EDT (4pm BST). The hurricane has severely strengthened over the last 24 hours. Aletta is expected to remain a hurricane through Saturday before weakening and being downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday. The Weather Channel said: "Infrared satellite imagery indicates that showers and thundershowers are become better located near Aletta's centre of circulation. An eye began to appear by midday Thursday, which is a sure sign of intensification. "Fortunately, a dome of high pressure aloft over northern Mexico will steer Aletta away from the Mexican coast on a general west-northwest track into early next week." At 2pm on Thursday local time (10pm BST), the hurricane was travelling an estimated 600 miles south of the Mexican city Cabo San Lucas. The official hurricane season started on June 1 and Aletta was the first tropical storm named in the eastern North Pacific Basin this season. 10.09pm: NASA satellites shows ‘intensifying hurricane Aletta’ A NASA satellite flying over the eye of hurricane Aletta has observed “extreme downpours” indicating rainfall was pounding down at a rate of 142 mm (5.6 inches) per hour. The observations were made on June 7 at 6.38pm local time (June 8 at 1.38am BST) before Aletta was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane. NASA Precipitation shared a 3D graphic of the precipitation which showed “tall convective were reaching heights above 15km (9.3 miles). In a website statement, NASA Precipitation said: “The heat released by condensation within these tall thunderstorms provided fuel for Aletta's intensification.” Hurricane Aletta 2018 path LIVE: The eye of the storm 8.46pm: Second area of low pressure is ‘likely’ to become named storm by weekend While people are looking to see what happens with Aletta, another area of low pressure may well become a named storm by Saturday. The Weather Channel said: “To the east of Aletta, another area of low pressure, a tropical wave, is given high odds by the NHC to develop into a tropical depression or tropical storm this weekend south of the Mexican Riviera. “If it eventually becomes a tropical storm, it would earn the name Bud.” 7.30pm: Surfers and swimmers warned of ‘life-threatening surf’ along Mexican west coast and Baja California Sur As Aleta continues to grow in strength, coastal residents in Mexico are being urged to stay vigilant of rip tides and high waves later on today and tomorrow. Cyclocane said: “Swells generated by Aletta will begin to affect portions of the coast of west-central mainland Mexico and the west coast of Baja California Sur later today and will continue through the weekend. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.” 7.25pm: Wind speeds latest Current Wind Speed 120 knots / 140 MPH Max Predicted Wind Speed 125 knots / 145 MPH at Friday, 09 Jun 2018 at 1am. 6.15pm: Meteorologist says Aletta’s “rapid intensification was not well forecast” Aletta's rapid upgrade into a Category 4 storm was not predicted by experts, according to a meteorologist. Dr. Jeff Masters wrote on the Weather Underground website: “Aletta put on a remarkable display of rapid intensification overnight Thursday, with the winds increasing by 70 mph in just 24 hours. “Aletta was merely a tropical storm with 70 mph winds at 11 am EDT Thursday, but by Friday at 11 am, the hurricane had morphed into a fierce Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds. “This rapid intensification episode was not well-forecast; the official NHC intensity forecast made at 11 am EDT Thursday called for Aletta to peak with 100 mph winds.” He shared official NOAA data showing Aletta is now the sixth earilest Category 4 Eastern Pacific hurricane since records began. Hurricane Aletta 2018 path LIVE: NOAA has captured the eye of the storm 6pm: What does category 4 hurricane mean? A category 4 hurricane is the second highest possible level in terms of intensity on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale (SSHS). Wind speeds typically measuring between 130 and 156 mph (209 to 251 km/h) have the power to flatten homes. The Unite States deadliest natural disaster - the 1900 Galveston hurricane - was equivalent to a modern-day Category 4 storm. The most recent Category 4 storm to hit the US was Harvey in 2017, which displaced more than 30,000 people and cost the US $125 billion in damages. 4.40pm: Hurricane Aletta bumped up to category 4 level Hurricane Aletta was officially moved up to a category 4 level hurricane as of 11am EDT (4pm BST) with 140mph wind speeds. The storm is currently 500 miles south of Mexico's Baja Peninsula but is not expected to hit land. The Weather Channel said: “Infrared satellite imagery now shows a distinct, 20-mile diameter eye, with deep convection surrounding it.” 3pm: Hurricane path update Hurricane Aletta remains at category 3 with current speeds of 120mph. The hurricane is 475 mi WSW of Manzanillo, Mexicao. 2.55pm: Kat Hopps takes over live reporting 1.46pm update: Wind speeds racing By Saturday morning, winds will have reached mega speeds of 120mph with a pressure of almost 1,000mb. On Sunday, this is expected to reduce to 80mph by early morning - and again reducing to 45mph by Monday. As of Wednesday, the winds will cut right down to around 25mph. 12.34pm update: Latest spaghetti maps show one path could take Aletta to make landfall Spaghetti maps from Cyclocane tracking the path of Hurricane Aletta suggest the whirling vortex will track further out to see in a northwesterly direction. However, one string shows the path of the storm tracking towards San Diego. While this is considered extremely unlikely, hurricanes are unpredictable. Hurricane Aletta: Latest spaghetti maps on the path 12.28pm update: Aletta rapidly intensifying The Weather Channel said: "Aletta may gain a bit more intensity before the combination of increased wind shear and decreasing ocean heat content take their typical toll. "Fortunately, a dome of high pressure aloft over northern Mexico is steering Aletta away from the Mexican coast on a general west-northwest track the next several days." 11.15am update: 2018 hurricane season forecast In its 2018 seasonal forecast, NOAA called for an 80 percent chance of a near-to-above-average season in both the Eastern and Central Pacific basins. And they predicted a total of 14 to 20 named storms, 7 to 12 hurricanes, and 3 to 7 major hurricanes. In 2017, the basin saw 18 named storms, 9 of which become hurricanes, with 4 classified as major storms (category 3 or higher). 10.39am update: Hurricane Aletta could be upgraded to Cat 4 In a recent release from the National Hurricane Centre, it has been warned that hurricane Aletta could become a category four hurricane later today. It is still expected that the hurricane will experience significant weakening by this weekend. Coastal regions of Acapulco to Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos have been told to monitor a second system which threatens to form in the next week. There are warnings of a higher risk that this system could make direct impacts to the Mexico coast. Hurricane Aletta path: The storm is the first hurricane of the season 9.51am update: Wind speeds latest Current Wind Speed 105 knots / 120 MPH Max Predicted Wind Speed 115 knots / 130 MPH at Friday, 08 Jun 2018 1:00 PM 9.28am update: Satellite images indicate that Aletta has continued to rapidly intensify The NHC warned the emergence of the eye of the storm meant the hurricane was getting stronger, saying the swirling vortex has a "very deep convection in the eyewall and a warm eye".<doc-sep>Tropical Storm Aletta becomes first hurricane of 2018 top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The tropical storm was upgraded to a hurricane on Thursday. It is currently category one and had severely strengthened over the last 24 hours. Aletta is expected to remain a hurricane through Saturday before weakening and being downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday. At 2pm on Thursday local time (10pm BST) the hurricane was travelling an estimated 600 miles south of the Mexican city Cabo San Lucas. Initially Aletta had been outputting winds of 45 miles per hour before severely intensifying Aletta is not expected to pose a threat to land as it travels in a northwesterly direction. The hurricane is expected to gain strength over the next day before eventually weakening. Forecasters have been monitoring any showers and thunderstorms appearing south of Mexico’s coastline since last weekend as they desperately attempted to predict whether Aletta could pose a danger to the region. Prior to the announcement from the National Hurricane Centre, experts had predicted Aletta would be upgraded as it vastly gained strength. Storm Aletta named as first tropical storm to strike Mexico coast Dan Kottlowski, from AccuWeather, said: “Aletta should become a hurricane Friday or during the upcoming weekend.” The official hurricane season started on June 1 and Aletta was the first tropical storm named in the eastern North Pacific Basin this season. Initially Aletta had been outputting winds of 45 miles per hour before severely intensifying. Flash flooding in areas is not expected but showers and thunderstorms are a possibility in the Mexican regions from Oaxaca to Jalisco on Friday. Aletta is not expected to pose a threat to land as it travels in a northwesterly direction Rip currents and rough seas could strike beaches from Acapulco to Mazatlan and southern Baja California thanks to Aletta’s force. Forecaster AccuWeather has predicted a second tropical threat could develop towards the south of southern Mexico into the weekend or next week. It is understood this threat could track closer to the nation’s coastline than Aletta. The hurricane is expected to gain strength over the next day before eventually weakening<doc-sep>There's a 90 percent chance a subtropical or tropical cyclone will form in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said. The main threat for Florida is heavy rainfall, tornadoes and rip currents, the National Hurricane Center said. The National Hurricane Center reports that the tropical disturbance over the Yucatan Peninsula is gradually becoming better defined and now has a higher chance of development, CBS Miami reports. The report came a day after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2018 hurricane season forecast release. Whether or not the disturbance develops into something more, South Florida will likely see a lot of rain and wind over the next few days. This broad surface low-pressure system is battling some high wind shear and interacting with land, most of the convection associated with this system is to the east of the center. 7:25 PM: New Special Tropical Weather Outlook issued- There is a high chance (90%) of a subtropical or tropical cyclone forming in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Heavy rain and rip currents are the main threats for now. Full details: https://t.co/m9946DoYYi pic.twitter.com/qYwpW3KPt3 — NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) May 24, 2018 As this disturbance lifts to the north into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, and environmental conditions become more favorable for development, there is a 90 percent chance this system could develop into a tropical or sub-tropical depression sometime this weekend in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The European model has forecast rainfall totals ranging from 2 to 4 inches through Monday. The GFS model is forecasting rainfall totals ranging from 4 to 8 inches through Monday. The track will determine how much rain we will see. Even if the center tracks to our west, we will be on the east side, or the dirty side, of the system and heavy downpours and flooding will be possible. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday released its forecast for the 2018 hurricane season, predicting 10 to 16 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes. One to four hurricanes could be "major" with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. If that forecast holds, it would make for a near-normal or above-normal season. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. Last year, NOAA predicted that 2017 would be an above-average season, and it certainly was with 17 named storms, including 10 hurricanes. Three of them became major hurricanes that battered Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and many Caribbean islands.<doc-sep>
Tropical Storm Aletta becomes first hurricane of 2018 Hurricane Aletta has been upgraded to a category three ranking after the storm intensified overnight as it swirls around the coast of Mexico. The system recently hit 120mph, and will apparently rapidly strength further - possibly becoming a category four storm later today. Currently, the hurricane sits 450 miles off Mexico’s coast, south of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. The storm is so far not expected to pose any real threat to life, apart from storm swells and rip tides. Will hurricane Aletta hit Mexico? Hurricane Aletta’s path is so far committed to some miles off the Mexico coast. Forecasts predict the hurricane is unlikely to make landfall, as a dome of high pressure will steer it away. By Sunday, it is believed that the hurricane will weaken again until down to tropical storm status. However, Aletta’s rapid intensification makes it hard to predict, so last minute changes are always possible. A recent update puts hurricane Aletta with chances of becoming a category four, will it hit Mexico? The National Hurricane Centre in Miami has so far issued no warnings for the US Will hurricane Aletta hit Florida? The National Hurricane Centre has issued no warnings for Florida at the time of writing. Hurricane Aletta is moving west-northwest at the moment, away from the Mexico coast. It is expected to continue on this course for the next few days, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles from the epicentre. Tropical storm force winds extend 90 miles out from the epicentre. At this rate, Aletta will dissipate before making landfall in Mexico, and will be unable to make landfall in Florida. Hurricane Aletta is currently embarking on a north/north-west path Hurricane Aletta path MAPS: Category 3 hurricane forms near Mexico Fri, June 8, 2018 Hurricane Aletta 2018: Maps show the predicted path and winds speeds of tropical storm near Mexico. Play slideshow National Hurricane Center 1 of 12 The National Hurricane Center revealed maps showing Hurricane Aletta