Hurricane Hernan Brewing in Pacific

Tropical Storm Hernan formed late on July 6 in the eastern Pacific more than 600 miles from Baja California.

By July 7, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center were predicting Hernan could become the fifth hurricane of 2008 in the Pacific.

This image is from July 7.

Photo: NOAA

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Tropical Storm Hernan, the eighth named storm of 2008 in the eastern Pacific Ocean, formed late on Wednesday and could reach hurricane strength Friday or Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Still 650 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Tropical Storm Hernan was not expected to menace land.

There have already been four hurricanes (Boris, Elida, Fausto and Genevieve) in the eastern Pacific so far in 2008, none of them major. The season there, overall, has been fairly average, according to storm trackers.

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 five to eight hurricanes, as many as three of them major (Category 3 or greater) storms.

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. The Atlantic so far has seen five named storms, and two hurricanes (Bertha and Dolly), one of them a major storm (Dolly).

2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Pacific

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

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

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

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

5. 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.

6. Hurricane Fausto formed as a tropical storm July 16 off the coast of Mexico. Like other 2008 Pacific hurricanes, the third of the year did not affect land.

7. Hurricane Genevieve formed in the Pacific Ocean, more than 580 miles off the coast of Mexico, on July 25, 2008. The fourth hurricane in the eastern Pacific, it did not affect land.

8. Tropical Storm Hernan formed August 6 hundreds of miles from Baja California and was expected to reach hurricane strength.

Remaining 2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Pacific

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

2008 Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Atlantic

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


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2. Hurricane Bertha formed as a tropical storm July 3 in the far eastern Atlantic, then 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 3-5 inches of rain. It broke the record for longest-lived July storm and on July 18 reformed into a hurricane.


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3. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed on July 19 off the coast of the Carolinas. The first named storm to threaten the U.S. coast, Cristobal threatened 3-5 inches of rain and strong storm surges across South and North Carolina.


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4. Hurricane Dolly reached Category 2 strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall near the Texas-Mexico border July 23, 2008. Heavy rains and wind led to at least one death, flooding and damage in Texas and in neighboring states that may exceed $1 billion.


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4. Tropical Storm Edouard formed August 3 in the Gulf of Mexico and though forecasters predicted strengthening and it passed by critical oil infrastructure, it was largely welcomed for relieving drought conditions in some parts of Texas and Louisiana.


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Remaining 2008 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names - Atlantic

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

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