Tropical Storm Mario, considered a “mini,” formed Friday morning in the Pacific Ocean, very close to the west coast of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.
According to the 5:00 p.m. ET NHC bulletin, Mario was located 90 miles west-southwest of Zihuatanejo and 60 miles southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas, both in Mexico. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph.
According to the forecast, the system is expected to begin a slower west-northwestward movement Friday night through the weekend.
The center of Mario should move parallel to the coast of Mexico Friday night, moving away from land by Saturday.
According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Mario will produce one to three inches of additional rain, with locally higher amounts, especially in Jalisco, through Saturday morning. This poses a risk of flash flooding, especially in areas with higher terrain.
Tropical storm conditions were expected in parts of the Michoacán coast on Friday, and gusty winds were expected in other coastal areas of the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, and Colima until the evening.
Tropical Storm Alvin opened the Pacific hurricane season on May 28, and a few days later, on June 8, Barbara formed, the first hurricane of the season in this ocean.
To date, seven hurricanes have formed in the Pacific this season, three of which were of greater intensity.
Most have remained in the Pacific waters, with the exception of Hurricane Erik, which left at least two dead in Mexico.
Other storms have been near the Mexican coast, causing heavy rain and flooding.
Source: telemundopr
