North East Pacific
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, but earlier this evening, the first hurricane of the 2010 Pacific season formed approximately 365 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico, according to a bulletin from the National Hurricane Center.
Currently a Category 1 hurricane, Celia poses no threat to land and is expected to continue to move to the West at about 7 mph for the next few days.
Hurricane Monitoring
Central North Pacific
The National Hurricane Center (in Miami) monitors and names storms that form in the North East Pacific basin east of 140°W longitude.
Responsibility for monitoring the area from 140°W longitude to 180° longitude belongs to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center located in Honolulu.
If a storm that forms in the Eastern Pacific moves into the Central Pacific Ocean, the National Hurricane Center turns over monitoring of the system to CPHC.
Emergency Preparedness
In addition to high winds, hurricanes also bring heavy rains that can cause flash flooding. High waves and storm surge are other hazards that can cause damage to property and loss of life.
For a complete emergency preparedness checklist, please visit CPHC’s Actions to Take When a Hurricane Nears Hawaii and view the “Be Red Cross Ready” Hurricane Checklist (pdf) from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Although NOAA has predicted a below-normal 2010 hurricane season for the Eastern and Central Pacific, officials remind us that “it only takes one hurricane (or even a tropical storm) to cause a disaster.” The time to prepare is now.
“Hurricane Watch” means hurricane/tropical storm conditions are possible in the specified area of the Watch, usually within 48 hours
“Hurricane Warning” means hurricane/tropical storm conditions are expected in the specified area of the Warning, usually within 36 hours.
