FLORIDA, USA — While we're still a few days away from the official start of hurricane season, one storm is making its way to landfall in the Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Agatha, which strengthened Sunday from a tropical storm to a Category 2 storm, is about 50 miles southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is moving northeast at 8 mph.
The NHC is currently predicting Agatha will make landfall Monday afternoon or evening in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Before landfall, the storm isn't expected to change much in either direction or strength and will likely maintain its Category 2 status with sustained winds of 110 mph.
Once it makes landfall, Agatha is expected to rapidly weaken as it continues to move inland over Mexico and by late Tuesday dissipate over southeastern Mexico. What's leftover from Agatha will then move into the Gulf and Caribbean by late next week. There is a chance for Agatha to redevelop, but right now the National Hurricane Center is giving it a 40% chance of development over the next 5 days.
This means Florida doesn't have to worry about Hurricane Agatha just yet. But make sure to stay up to date with 10 Tampa Bay for the latest tropical updates.
NOAA, (the government agency that oversees the NHC and other environmental-related entities), has forecast 14-21 named storms with winds of at least 39 mph, or tropical storm strength, this season. This is above the average of 14 named storms.
Of those storms, 6 to 10 are expected to be of hurricane strength, with winds at or above 74 mph. And 3 to 6 of those storms are forecast to reach major hurricane strength — category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph. There is an average of seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes every year.
Again, those of us that live along the Gulf Of Mexico won't have to worry about Hurricane Agatha unless it reaches the warm Gulf waters. After losing strength to cross land and into the Gulf, Agatha could use the warmer Gulf water to re-energize itself. Only time will tell.
Stay tuned to 10 Tampa Bay as our team of severe weather experts keeps an eye on the eye of Agatha.