Three Tropical Storms May Form at the Same Time

Two more tropical storms could form at the same time this week as National Hurricane Center (NHC) experts track another tropical storm and a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean.

Why It Matters

Hurricane Iona formed on Monday after undergoing rapid intensification. Shortly after Iona formed, Tropical Storm Keli also took shape. Both storms are considered part of the Central Pacific season. Meanwhile, two more named storms could join them in the coming days as NHC meteorologists monitor two disturbances in the Eastern Pacific.

What To Know

As of the most recent update from the NHC, Iona is a Category 1 hurricane with windspeeds of 75 miles per hour. The storm is located in the central Pacific basin well southeast of Hawaii. Tropical Storm Keli, which is east of Iona, has maximum sustained windspeeds of 40 mph.

Neither storm is likely to cause hazards to nearby land, the updates said.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Pacific, the NHC is monitoring two other potential systems.

One disturbance is located in the western East Pacific, further east than the two storms in the Central Pacific. It is about 1,600 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the NHC forecast said. There’s a 60 percent chance the system will strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours.

“Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form during the next day or two,” the NHC said. “The system is forecast to move generally westward around 10 mph and enter the Central Pacific basin around midweek.”

AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate the storm could form between July 28 and 29. However, it might face some challenges.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Scott Homan told Newsweek that in the wake of the other two storms, this disturbance will likely have a lower chance at strengthening.

“The chances of all three of them becoming a tropical storm or a hurricane at the same time is close, but I do feel like the third is going to have a heck of a time trying to develop,” he said.

Then, the NHC also is tracking “a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms located a few hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico.” This disturbance also has a 60 percent chance of development within the next 48 hours, and a 90 percent chance of developing within the next seven days.

AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate the storm could form between July 29 and 31.

Although this system is not yet tracked by the NHC, AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring another area of potential development south of Mexico that could form between August 2 and 5.

What People Are Saying

NHC in a public advisory about Hurricane Iona: “Strengthening is forecast during the day or two. Gradual weakening is expected to begin around midweek.”

NHC in a public advisory about Tropical Storm Keli: “Some strengthening is possible during the next day or so, however, weakening should begin around the middle of the week.”

What Happens Next?

NHC meteorologists currently aren’t forecasting Iona to become a major hurricane. The NHC also doesn’t anticipate that Keli will strengthen into a hurricane.

Regarding the other two storms, it remains to be seen when they could become named storms, and if they will form before the other two storms have a chance to weaken.