The National Hurricane Center is tracking an unusual storm system in the eastern Pacific Ocean. No tropical system has ever been recorded prior to May in the eastern Pacific since records began in 1949; should a tropical cyclone form, it would be the first ever to do so so early in January.

A large area of disturbed weather associated with a broad area of low pressure has formed about 1,300 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The low is forecast to move slowly northward over the next few days and could acquire some tropical or subtropical characteristics during that time. Environmental conditions are expected to become unfavorable for further development by early next week. Regardless of tropical or subtropical cyclone development, the low will likely produce gale-force winds over the weekend.




In the latest Tropical Outlook, the National Hurricane Center gives this system a 50-50 chance of becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone.