Hurricane forecasters identify second possible storm in Pacific

The tropics are awakening.

Hurricane forecasters are now monitoring a second possible tropical storm in the eastern Pacific basin, the National Hurricane Center announced on the morning of May 31.

This system, which could form near Mexico's southern coast later this week, joins another weather disturbance that's also expected to form in the Pacific well off the Baja California peninsula this week.

The likely Pacific storms are forming against the backdrop of the official opening of the Atlantic hurricane season on Monday, June 1.

New system identified

According to the hurricane center, in an update from the early morning of May 31, "an area of low pressure could form late this week or early next week south of the southern coast of Mexico." (Pictured in yellow on the map below.)

"Environmental conditions appear favorable for some development of this system thereafter, while it moves westward to west-northwestward at around 10 mph," the hurricane center said.

There's a 20% chance of tropical development within the next week.

AccuWeather said the system could bring heavy rain and wind to the southern coast of Mexico.

Another storm could form

Farther out to sea, some 1,000 miles west of Central America, "a broad area of low pressure is forecast to form during the next few days well to the southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula," the hurricane center said. (Seen in red on the map.)

"Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development thereafter, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the middle part of the week while moving westward or west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph across the western portion of the East Pacific," the hurricane center said.

The hurricane center gives the system an 80% chance of development within the next seven days.

According to AccuWeather, the system "is expected to drift west and will likely pose little concern beyond shipping interests. Chances are it would fade before reaching Hawaii later in the month."

Eastern Pacific storm tracker

Pacific storms seldom hit land

Unlike storms in the Atlantic basin, the vast majority – roughly 85% to 90% – of storms that form in the Pacific don't ever threaten land and often spin harmlessly out to sea. However, they can occasionally impact Hawaii, the west coast of Mexico or the Southwest U.S. with heavy flooding and rainfall.

Whichever system becomes a tropical storm first, it will get the name Amanda, which is the first name on the Pacific storm list for 2026.

Atlantic season starts Monday

In the basin that Americans pay most attention to, the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on Monday, June 1. Fortunately, according to the hurricane center, "tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days."

Contributing; Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, with a focus on weather and climate.