Tropical Storm Fausto is strengthening in the Eastern Pacific and is expected to become the first hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere this season, while Tropical Storm Elida is forecast to weaken but not before bringing life-threatening rip currents to Southern California.
The active start to the Eastern Pacific hurricane season is in keeping with the strengthening El Niño climate pattern, which historically enhances tropical activity in the basin.
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Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring an area several hundred miles south of Mexico for potential tropical development. The NHC is giving this area a medium chance of development over the next seven days.
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According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Fausto is expected to strengthen into the basin's first hurricane sometime Monday night.
Fausto is roughly 785 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, with wind speeds of 60 mph.
Once a tropical storm’s winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane and maintains the same name it had when it was a tropical storm.
Fausto is expected to move into a more favorable environment for tropical development, where it could continue to strengthen through midweek before it encounters more hostile conditions and gradually weakens.
It is expected to track northwest over the next several days in the general direction of Hawaii, which it could approach in eight to 10 days.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Elida is weakening as it moves to the north over cooler waters, roughly parallel to Baja California.
Elida is expected to become a remnant low by Tuesday.
However, the NHC warned that it will still generate life-threatening rip currents for parts of Southern California during the next several days.
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The FOX Forecast Center said the storm's remnants could also bring rain to parts of Southern California as well.
"So far, the basin has produced six named storms: Amanda, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida and now Fausto," the Forecast Center said.
"All storms formed ahead of their average climatological formation dates."