Tropical Storm Fausto Nearing Hurricane Strength

Tropical Storm Fausto formed on July 16, 2008, in the eastern Pacific, well off the coast of Mexico. Forecasters said it could reach hurricane strength.

Photo: NOAA

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Forecasters say Tropical Storm Fausto, which formed out of a tropical depression Wednesday, July 16 in the Pacific, could reach hurricane strength by Friday or Saturday.

Currently 510 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, Tropical Storm Fausto is not expected to affect land.

If Fausto intensifies as predicted, it would be the third hurricane in the eastern Pacific this year. The storm is the fifth named storm in the eastern Pacific and the fourth in three weeks. So far in the Pacific, only Tropical Storm Alma, which formed in late May and soaked Central America in the first days of June, has affected people on land.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have predicted that conditions will spawn a below-average storm season in the eastern Pacific, with 11-16 named storms, including 5-8 hurricanes, as many as three of them major (Category 3 or greater) storms.

Hurricane Elida, the second hurricane of the Eastern Pacific, continues to move westward and away from land. In the next couple of days, Elida is expected to weaken as it hits cooler waters, according to the latest forecast from The National Hurricane Center.

In the Atlantic, long-lived and surprising Tropical Storm Bertha, on the other hand, has retained tropical storm strength. It is not expected to threaten land again; it knocked out power and dumped heavy rains on Bermuda July 14, just after losing hurricane strength. It was the Atlantic's first hurricane and its first major hurricane.

Forecasters said a storm heading for the Windward Islands is no longer expected to intensify, though heavy rains could still affect the region.

Forecasters have predicted an above-average hurricane season for the Atlantic, where the storms most damaging to the U.S. form, could spawn 12 to 16 named storms, including six to nine hurricanes and as many as five major hurricanes.

2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Pacific

Tropical Storm Alma brought heavy rains and winds to the Central American nations of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala after forming May 29.

Hurricane Boris formed near Baja California and headed west into the Pacific, before reaching hurricane strength July 1.

Tropical Storm Cristina formed near Hawaii June 29 but dissipated before making landfall.

Tropical Storm Douglas formed July 2 and threatened to dump heavy rains on portions of southwest Mexico.

Hurricane Elida formed July 12 as a tropical storm and became the season's second Pacific hurricane July 14 when it became a weak Category 1 storm tracking westward from Mexico.

Tropical Storm Fausto formed July 16 off the coast of Mexico and could grow into a hurricane.

2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Pacific

Genevieve
Hernan
Iselle
Julio
Karina
Lowell
Marie
Norbert
Odile
Polo
Rachel
Simon
Trudy
Vance
Winnie
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke

2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Atlantic

Tropical Storm Arthur formed quickly on May 31 off Belize and lost tropical storm strength in fewer than 24 hours, amd brought punishing rains of 10-15 inches to parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, including Mexico and Guatemala.


NOAA

Hurricane Bertha after forming as a tropical storm July 3 in the far eastern Atlantic, Hurricane Bertha debuted as the Atlantic's first hurricane July 7 and quickly grew to major hurricane status. By the time it affected land, July 14 in Bermuda, it was a strong tropical storm, causing rough surf and threatening 3-5 inches of rain, but forecasters said it could strengthen, or even re-gain hurricane status after passing the island.


NASA

2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Atlantic

Christobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred

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