Tropical Storm Amanda forms, first 2026 Pacific storm

The first tropical storm of the 2026 Eastern Pacific hurricane season has formed over open ocean waters, posing no immediate threat to land. Tropical Storm Amanda developed early Wednesday from a previous tropical depression, located approximately 1,475 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Amanda had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving northwest at 8 mph. Forecasters expect the storm to continue strengthening over the next few days as it tracks generally northwestward through Friday. A turn toward the west and west-southwest at a slower forward speed is anticipated this weekend, after which the storm is forecast to weaken significantly due to increasing wind shear and drier air. The official forecast indicates Amanda will likely dissipate over the open Pacific by early next week.

The storm’s formation marks the beginning of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which officially started on May 15. Meteorologists note that the first named storm typically forms around June 10, placing this development on schedule. Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season began this Monday, with no cyclones yet...