Barbara, which was once a hurricane and is now a tropical storm, along with Cosme which never strengthened from tropical storm to hurricane status, are both forecast by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida to weaken and dissipate over time.
Tropical Storm Barbara is currently about 180 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. With maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and minimum central pressure up to 999 mb or 29.50″, the storm is moving to the northwest at 8 mph. Barbara is forecast to continue moving slowly to the northwest, where continued weakening is forecast. According to the NHC, Barbara is expected to dissipate by Wednesday.
While Barbara is a weakening storm, it still will bring hazards to the coastline. Swells generated by Barbara will affect portions of the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico, as well as the southernmost portions of Baja California through today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Tropical Storm Cosme is a strong tropical storm, just below hurricane status. While it is holding steady for now, it too is likely to meet the same fate as Barbara. As of the latest update released by the NHC, Cosme was located about 605 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph while the minimum central pressure is 993 mb or 29.33″. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at 5 mph for now; a turn toward the north is expected later today, followed by a faster north-northeast motion late today through Wednesday. According to the NHC, little change in strength is expected during the next 12 hours before weakening begins late today or tonight. Cosme is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low on Wednesday.
While Barbara and Cosme weaken, a new system is expected to form in the same general area they did. An area of low pressure is forecast to develop later this week south of southern Mexico. The NHC says that environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or over the weekend while moving generally west-northwestward just offshore the southwestern coast of Mexico. The NHC says there is a 70% chance that a tropical cyclone will develop in this area over the next 7 days.
There are no other areas of concern in the Eastern Pacific or Atlantic that the National Hurricane Center is tracking. Hurricane season in both the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic basins runs through to the end of November.
