Tropical Storm Ivo and Tropical Storm Henriette Come Alive in the Pacific

The Atlantic is not the only part of the world's oceans that is starting to see an uptick in tropical activity. The eastern and central portions of the Pacific are also in an active stage with two tropical storms currently churning through the basin. While one of these features is forecast to impact Mexico, the other storm will track to the north of Hawaii. Here is a look at what is happening in the tropics.

Latest on Tropical Storm Ivo

Tropical Storm Ivo formed on Wednesday in the eastern Pacific. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Ivo was packing maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph throughout the day on Thursday as it moved to the west-northwest at a fast clip of 24 mph.

Ivo is expected to usher in rain and rough surf conditions to some areas of the southwestern coastline of Mexico. The latest forecast models indicate that Ivo will continue to intensify as it becomes a hurricane on Friday. While the storm is not predicted to make a direct landfall in Mexico, it will skirt the coast for some time before drifting out to sea.

The heaviest rain bands associated with Ivo will fall over the open waters of the Pacific. However, that does not mean that Mexico will be completely spared Ivo's wrath. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected to fall across portions of the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, and the southwestern corner of Oaxaca through Saturday.

The immediate coastline and nearby hills will pick up the bulk of the moisture that rolls across Mexico. The rain will be significant enough to create the risk of flash flooding and mudslides through Friday. Lastly, Ivo will whip up the seas and generate rough surf conditions and dangerous rip currents throughout the duration of the weekend.

Latest on Tropical Storm Henriette

Tropical Storm Ivo has company in the Pacific. Farther to the west, Tropical Storm Henriette is moving through the central portions of the basin. Henriette is spinning about 1,500 miles east of Honolulu as of late Thursday. Although Henriette will remain well enough away from Hawaii, the islands will still be dodging some indirect impacts.

The caveat is that Henriette is currently moving through an area with prohibitive factors, meaning that it could weaken as it inches closer to Hawaii. Should it survive the journey across this part of the Pacific, Henriette is predicted to generate rough seas and locally strong rip currents to the island chain by late in the weekend and into early next week. The current forecast models indicate that Henriette will pass a few hundred miles to the northeast of the island chain.

Forecasters believe that there is also a chance that a weak zone of tropical moisture could pop up to the south of Henriette's path. This development would amplify the typical rain shower activity found over the islands this time of the year.

While the rain may be bad news for vacationers hoping to soak up the sun in Hawaii, the moisture would be welcome as the islands continue to grapple with abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions. Many parts of the islands have been on high alert in recent weeks as the dry landscape raises the threat of wildfires.

There is also the chance that Henriette could serve as a disruptor to the normal northeast trade winds that whip across the islands. That said, the local breezes will still be potent enough at times to pair with the parched vegetation to increase wildfire danger.

While Henriette is expected to weaken in the coming days, there is an outside chance that it could re-intensify and become a hurricane early next week as it moves to the north of the islands. At this point, it is not likely to threaten any major land masses.

The hurricane season in the eastern and central Pacific typically winds down earlier than the action in the Atlantic. This is because the wave of tropical elements that moves around the globe, known officially as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), is becoming more pronounced in the Atlantic basin.

We will stay on top of what is happening in both the Atlantic and the Pacific and update accordingly.

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