Hurricane Vance Nears Mexico's Pacific CoastWorld

The center said Vance could reach major hurricane strength — Category 3 or higher — before the end of Friday, though gradual weakening was expected to begin by Saturday as the storm encountered cooler water and stronger wind shear.

The hurricane’s outer bands were already funneling gale-force winds and rough seas into Mexico’s Gulf of Tehuantepec, the center said. Swells generated by Vance are expected to begin pounding parts of Mexico’s southern and southwestern coast this weekend and continue into next week, bringing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

As of Friday’s advisories, no coastal tropical cyclone watches or warnings were in effect, but forecasters urged everyone in the region to stay well-informed as the outlook evolves. Vance is likely to weaken before approaching the coast near Manzanillo next week, projections show.

If Vance reaches major strength, it would become the seventh major hurricane in a row this year in the Pacific, following Nolo, Odalys, Polo, Rachel, Simon and Trudy, according to the Associated Press. It became the first V-named storm in the eastern Pacific since 2018.

It has been an intense hurricane season in the Pacific, with storms forming in rapid succession near Hawaii and Mexico. Forecasters say a strong El Nino climate pattern, intensified by global warming, has supercharged tropical development across the basin.

The same pattern has produced unusual weather elsewhere this week, including severe flooding and tornadoes in the southwestern United States and a prolonged drought in Central America’s Dry Corridor, the AP reported.

A satellite image released by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed Vance strengthening over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.