Tropical Storm “Blanca” forms well to the southwest of Mexico
Featured image: Tropical Storm "Blanca" at 22:50 UTC on May 31, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-16, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
Tropical Storm "Blanca" formed at 21:00 UTC on May 31, 2021, as the second named storm of the 2021 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. This is the first time that 2 named storms have formed in the eastern North Pacific (to 140°W) prior to June 1 since 2013. Blanca is expected to remain over open waters and weaken into a tropical depression over the next three days.
At 09:00 UTC on June 1, Tropical Storm "Blanca" was located about 965 km (600 miles) south of the southern tip of Baja California, and about 530 km (330 miles) south-southeast of Socorro Island.
Blanca's maximum sustained winds were 95 km/h (60 mph) at the time, with gusts up to 110 km/h (70 mph). The minimum barometric pressure was 998 hPa, and the system was moving northwest at 11 km/h (7 mph).
Tropical Storm "Blanca" at 22:50 UTC on May 31, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-16, RAMMB/CIRA, TW
A slower west-northwestward motion is expected during the next couple of days, followed by a slow westward motion.
Strengthening is possible today, followed by gradual weakening beginning tonight and continuing through late this week.
This is a small tropical cyclone with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 75 km (45 mph) from the center.
"Blanca is the 2nd named storm of the eastern North Pacific 2021 hurricane season to date, Dr. Philip Klotzbach said.
"This is the first time that 2 named storms have formed in the eastern North Pacific (to 140°W) prior to June 1 since 2013."
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