Tracking Tropical Storm Kristy in the North Pacific Ocean

Tropical Storm Kristy Forms in the North Pacific Ocean

On Monday evening Mexico Central Time, the National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Kristy had formed in the North Pacific Ocean. Kristy originated from the remnants of Nadine, an Atlantic tropical storm that made landfall in Belize over the weekend and then moved across Central America into the Pacific.

With sustained wind speeds of 45 miles per hour, Kristy is the 11th named storm to form in the Eastern Pacific in 2024. Satellite imagery is being used to track the storm’s strength, size, and cohesion. The formation of an eye in the center of the storm indicates its intensity, with a symmetrical eye suggesting minimal weakening factors.

Typically, storms that form in the Atlantic or Pacific move westward, posing a greater threat to North America if they originate in the Atlantic. However, atmospheric conditions can sometimes redirect storms northward or northeastward towards the Baja California peninsula and the west coast of Mexico.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, two weeks before the Atlantic season, and both run through November 30. This year, storm-watchers are also monitoring the likely development of La Niña, an atmospheric pattern that can impact weather worldwide. In the Pacific Ocean, La Niña increases wind shear, making it more difficult for storms to form.

As the 2024 hurricane season progresses, experts will continue to monitor Kristy and other potential storms in the Pacific, assessing their potential impact on coastal regions.