Adrian is earliest Pacific tropical storm on record
As it strengthens, it could approach Mexico’s west coast
The hurricane season has gotten off to an early start: Tropical Storm Adrian formed late Tuesday in the eastern Pacific Ocean and continued to spin offshore Wednesday.
As of 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, Adrian had winds of 40 mph and was about 430 miles south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. It was moving to the northwest at 5 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It became a tropical depression Tuesday afternoon.
As of Wednesday, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The storm could approach the west coast of Mexico.
“With water temperatures off western Central America above normal and relatively low wind shear, conditions will be conducive for further strengthening,” AccuWeather meteorologist Steve Travis said.
A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.
Adrian is the earliest Pacific tropical storm on record, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach. He said the prior record for earliest tropical storm in the eastern Pacific was Alma on May 14, 1990.
The official start to the Pacific hurricane season is May 15. The Atlantic season kicks off June 1.
Tropical storms and hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean primarily impact the west coast of Mexico. Only rarely do they directly affect the U.S., though rainfall from these systems can occasionally lead to flooding in the Southwest.