Hurricane Carlos strengthens. Will it reach Mexico?
Hurricane Carlos on Saturday was located 140 miles from Acapulco, Mexico. The third hurricane this year indicates a fast start to the season.
Hurricane Carlos on Saturday was located 140 miles from Acapulco, Mexico. The third hurricane this year indicates a fast start to the season.
Hurricane Carlos has formed over Pacific waters south of Acapulco, Mexico, prompting a hurricane watch to be issued for a swath of that country's coastline.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Carlos' eye was located at 11 a.m. EDT Saturday about 140 miles (225 kilometers) south of Acapulco and that the storm had top sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). Forecasters say Carlos, previously a tropical storm, was moving northwest at 2 mph (4 kph).
Where is Carlos headed? Computer models disagree. But the National Hurricane Center says:
National Weather Service forecasters note that since Carlos is over warm waters, it's likely to intensify in strength over the the next day or two.聽
Mexico's government issued a hurricane watch from Lazaro Cardenas to Punta San Telma, meaning hurricane conditions were possible within that area within 48 hours. A tropical storm warning was in effect from Tecpan de Galeana to Lazaro Cardenas, while a tropical storm watch was in effect for east of Tecpan de Galeana to Acapulco.
Now that Carlos is a hurricane, this hurricane season is off to a fast start: This is the third hurricane that has occurred in the eastern Pacific season, one day behind the third hurricane of 1956.