Blanca Is Now a Hurricane, May Become a Major Hurricane Wednesday; Possible Threat to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula

Highlights:

-Blanca strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and is expected to rapidly strengthen to a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) by Wednesday.
-Blanca is the earliest formation of the second hurricane in the eastern Pacific basin since reliable records began in 1971.
-Hurricane Blanca is located about 400 miles off the coast of the Mexican Riviera.
-Blanca is expected move somewhat erratically through Wednesday before making a more decisive move northwestward starting Thursday.
-Late this week, though, Blanca is expected to weaken due to increased wind shear and movement over cooler water.
– It’s too early to tell whether Blanca will affect the Baja California peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas, and how strong it would be at that time. As mentioned above, Blanca is expected to be weakening as it moves toward the latitude of the southern Baja peninsula.
– If Blanca directly impacts the southern Baja peninsula, it would do so sometime Sunday. Those in the southern Baja peninsula should monitor the progress of Blanca.
-High surf and swells generated from Blanca – and leftover from Andres – will affect the Mexican Riviera and southern Baja coast. Dangerous rip currents are likely.
-Remnant moisture from Blanca may eventually be drawn into the Desert Southwest and southern Rockies next week.
-According to NOAA’s database, only one other pre-July 1 tropical cyclone tracked within 65 nautical miles of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a Jun. 14, 1958 Category 1 hurricane whose center passed just south of Los Cabos.http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-hurricane-blanca-east-pacific-mexico-2015