Tropical Storm Alvin strengthens off Mexico's coast in Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Alvin has sustained winds of over 39 mph and became the first named storm of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere.
Tropical Storm Alvin strengthens but is expected to fall apart before reaching Mexico
Tropical Storm Alvin quickly strengthened on Thursday before the cyclone will reach cooler waters late Friday.
Tropical Storm Alvin formed in the Eastern Pacific south of Mexico on Thursday, becoming the first named storm of the 2025 hurricane season.
A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph, an upgrade from a tropical depression.
(FOX Weather)
Tropical Storm Alvin is located about 500 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and is currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as it continues to churn over the open waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storm Alvin is expected to remain far enough offshore that impacts along the Mexican coast will be limited to heightened swells and increased rip currents along beaches. These can be a safety hazard for anyone who ventures into the water.
The tropical storm is not only the first of the season in the Eastern Pacific, but across all ocean basins that make up the Northern Hemisphere.
The amount of inactivity is a bit unusual, with forecasters usually tracking the first significant tropical cyclone in the Western Pacific by April, with the first system in the Eastern Pacific by early June.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE FOX WEATHER APP
(FOX Weather)
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross explained that Tropical Storm Alvin formed in the Eastern Pacific when hurricane season would typically get going.
"The Eastern Pacific season kicked off right on schedule. The ocean water off the southern coast of Mexico is always quite warm, and this year the atmospheric pattern over that part of the ocean is quite conducive for development," Norcross said. "Alvin has a good chance of intensifying significantly over the open water. As it tracks farther north, however, the water cools quickly. So, if Alvin affects Cabo San Lucas or nearby areas in northern Mexico, for example, it looks likely to be a weakening storm."
The composition of water temperatures in the Eastern Pacific makes the evolution of Tropical Storm Alvin a bit complex and will impact future tropical cyclones.
There are large pockets of both warmer and cooler water temperatures, meaning that the tropical cyclone’s strength will be determined by its forecast track.
WHAT TO DO WHEN HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR TOWN
(FOX Weather)
Systems that move over water with temperatures above 78 degrees Fahrenheit are considered to be in an environment warm enough to support the development of tropical cyclones and their continued strengthening.
In contrast, cooler water temperatures make it more difficult for tropical cyclones to develop and intensify.
Mexico’s National Weather Service forecasts that there will be enough warm water this season to support more tropical cyclones than in a typical year, projecting as many as 18 named storms and 10 hurricanes.
5 DIFFERENT NAMES FOR HURRICANES AROUND THE WORLD
Water from hurricanes, tropical storms kills more in US than wind
Water is the No. 1 killer during a hurricane or tropical storm that strikes the U.S. – comprising nearly 90% of all tropical cyclone deaths.
Tropical Storm Alvin is expected to reach cooler waters by Friday and quickly fall apart south of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.
Once the center of circulation dissolves, forecasters will then watch where the tropical storm’s remnants venture for increased precipitation chances over mainland Mexico and potentially into the southern U.S.
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through Nov. 30.