The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Tropical Storm Aletta to the first hurricane of the 2018 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season. An eye has become apparent in visible geostationary satellite imagery, although the central deep convection is not very symmetric on enhanced infrared imagery. According to the National Hurricane Center, because the system should continue to traverse a warm ocean and experience weak vertical shear for the next day or two, additional strengthening is forecast. By Saturday some increase in shear is likely, which should cause weakening to commence.
Aletta is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h), and a turn toward the northwest is expected in 2 to 3 days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb (29.15 inches).
