Tropical storm Blas could become a hurricane in southern Mexico

• Tropical storm Blas could become a hurricane in southern Mexico on Wednesday.
• Authorities indicated that once Blas reached hurricane strength, it would likely begin to weaken.
• This is the second named storm of the season.

Tropical Storm Blas, the second named storm of the eastern Pacific season, is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday, June 15, off southern Mexico, although it is not expected to pose a threat to land, according to The Associated Press.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that after reaching hurricane strength, Blas would likely start to weaken later in the week as it moved out into the open ocean.

Where will tropical storm Blas hit?

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) Tuesday night. Its center was about 290 miles (465 kilometers) south-southeast of the Mexican port of Manzanillo and it was moving north at 5 mph (7 kph). The hurricane center said that while the storm is not forecast to make landfall, it could still cause dangerous conditions along the coast.

The first named storm of the Pacific season, Hurricane Agatha, made landfall near Puerto Ángel in the state of Oaxaca on May 30 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph). Authorities said flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains from Agatha killed at least nine people, with another five missing and suspected dead, according to The Associated Press.

Authorities warn about the effects of the hurricane

According to a map shared by the National Meteorological Service (SMN), Blas could intensify on Wednesday to a category 1 hurricane, although without making landfall. «It is expected to continue its trajectory parallel to the coasts of the Mexican Pacific states,» stated the service of the National Water Commission (Conagua).

During the next few hours, the SMN forecasts that the cloud bands of Blas will cause «torrential rains», from 150 to 250 millimeters, in Guerrero and Oaxaca. They also predicted «very heavy» rains, from 50 to 75 millimeters, in Colima and Michoacán, and a greater probability of «heavy» rains in the center of the country.

Authorities give the worst forecast for the season

Likewise, the agency warned of winds with gusts of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour and waves of 1 to 3 meters high on the coasts of Guerrero, Michoacán and Oaxaca, reported EFE.

In mid-May, the Mexican authorities reported that they anticipate the formation of up to 40 named cyclones in 2022, which they described as an «active season», and predicted that of the total number of tropical cyclones generated, both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, at least five would impact the country.

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