The National Hurricane Center upgraded an area of disturbed weather located off the west coast of Mexico to Tropical Storm Alvin this morning; the storm continues to gain strength as it spins about off-shore. Alvin is the first named tropical cyclone in the northern hemisphere this season and the first named storm in the Eastern Pacific basin.

Hurricane Season in the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Basin began on May 15. Hurricane Season begins in the Central Pacific and Atlantic Hurricane Basins this weekend on June 1.

For now, Alvin is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through today, followed by a northward turn tomorrow and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is expected through tonight, but weakening is expected to begin by late tomorrow. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center while the  estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb or 29.68 inches.

Alvin is forecast to enter the Gulf of California this weekend and dissipate. However, its remnant moisture is expected to stream north and east into Mexico and the southern United States over time.  Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas could eventually see heavy precipitation from Alvin’s remnant moisture during the early to middle part of next week.