Blanca expected to become the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific

2015 eastern Pacific hurricane season has just began and is already setting records. With Hurricane "Andres" reaching Category 4 on Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on June 1 and Hurricane "Blanca" reaching Category 4 on June 3 this is the earliest on record, since 1971, that two major hurricanes developed in the Eastern Pacific.

There have been four other seasons that have had two major hurricanes develop before the end of June, AccuWeather writes.

"Blanca is also expected to become the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific, a record that is currently being held by Hurricane Ava from 1973. Ava reached that threshold on June 6 of that year," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

Blanca formed on June 1, 2015 about 535 km (332 miles) SSW of Zihuatanejo, the Pacific coast of Mexico as the second named storm of the 2015 eastern Pacific season.

Hurricane "Blanca" on June 3, 2015. Image credit: NASA Terra/MODIS.

At 21:00 UTC on June 3, the system was located about 745 km (465 miles) S of Manzanillo and 1 300 km (810 miles) SSE of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

At the time, Blanca had maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) – Category 4 hurricane. Minimum central pressure was 945 hPa.

"Blanca remains trapped within weak steering currents, and the cyclone has barely moved today," NWS NHC said in their Forecast Discussion issued at 21:00 UTC on June 3. "During the next 24 hours, the hurricane should begin a northwestward track with some increase in forward speed as a high pressure system over the southwestern United States and Mexico amplifies, and a mid-level trough approaches the coast of California."

With maximum sustained winds near 260 km/h (161 mph) expected by 18:00 UTC on June 4, Blanca could set the new record as the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 km (25 miles) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 km (90 miles).

Swells generated by Blanca will begin affecting portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, NHC noted.

Intense showers and thunderstorms are expected in Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco, but the heaviest rain will remain off the coast.

24 hr rain amount. Credit: NOAA/eTRaP.

Landfall is possible between Cabo San Lucas and Puerto San Carlos, Baja California on Sunday, June 7 but Blanca's interaction with cooler waters should weaken her significantly before hitting the coast line.

However, this system should still be capable of producing damaging winds, flash flooding and mudslides.

Image credit: UW-CIMSS. Edit: TW.

Satellite animations

• Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Infrared (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• Storm-Centered Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)

• Storm-Centered Infrared (GOES 15; CIMSS)
• Storm-Centered Enhanced Infrared (GOES 15; CIMSS)
• Storm-Centered Water Vapor (GOES 15; CIMSS)
• Storm-Centered Visible (GOES 15; CIMSS)

• East Pacific Infrared (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• East Pacific (Aviation Color Enhancement) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• East Pacific Water Vapor (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• East Pacific Visible (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)
• East Pacific Visible (Colorized) (GOES 15; NOAA/SSD)

Featured image: Hurricane "Blanca" and Tropical Storm "Andres" on June 3, 2015. Credit: UW-CIMSS.