Tropical Storm Barbara has intensified into the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm is generating swells that will impact parts of southwestern Mexico’s coast over the coming days, creating dangerous surf and rip current conditions.
Hurricane Barbara is currently positioned about 155 miles (245 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, with sustained winds reaching 75 mph (120 kph). The storm is moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph).
While no coastal warnings or watches are in place as of Monday morning, heavy rainfall is expected along coastal regions in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco, raising concerns about localized flooding.
The hurricane center cautioned that Barbara’s swells are likely to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the southwestern coastline, accompanied by strong gusty winds.
At the same time, Tropical Storm Cosme gained some strength but remained far off Mexico’s coast, approximately 630 miles (1,015 kilometers) south-southwest of Baja California’s tip. Early Monday, Cosme’s sustained winds measured 50 mph (80 kph), moving west-northwest at 9 mph (14 kph). It is expected to near hurricane strength later Monday before veering northeast and accelerating between Tuesday and Wednesday.
