Tropical Storm Simon Strengthening; Could Become a Hurricane Off Mexico's Pacific Coast Published: Oct 3, 2014, 8:45 AM EDT weather.com

Tropical Storm Simon Strengthening; Could Become a Hurricane Off Mexico's Pacific Coast

Published: Oct 3, 2014, 8:45 AM EDT weather.com

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Tropical Storm Simon became the eighteenth named storm of the 2014 eastern Pacific hurricane season off the coast of Mexico early Thursday.

(MORE: Expert Analysis | Hurricane Central)

Simon is embedded in an environment of relatively low wind shear (changing wind direction and/or speed with height typically hostile to developing or mature tropical cyclones), moist air, and warm sea-surface temperatures which should support strengthening for the next few days. Simon may become a hurricane in the next day or so.

Simon is expected to track toward the west-northwest over the next several days, with its center likely to remain offshore of the Mexican Pacific coast. 

That said, outer rainbands on the periphery of Simon's circulation will continue to wring out locally heavy rain through Friday, which could trigger flash flooding and mudslides across western Jalisco, western Sinaloa, Nayarit in western Mexico. In addition, high surf and dangerous rip currents will also threaten coastal areas.

At this time, it appears this system is not a major threat to the storm-weary Baja Peninsula. Any possible north to northeast curve in track early next week will take Simon over cooler water and into an environment of increasing wind shear and more stable air, inducing weakening.

However, those in the area, including Los Cabos, may see locally heavy bands of rain the next several days on the outer periphery of Simon, which may trigger local flash flooding.

Here are the latest status and forecast maps on the system.

Projected Path

Projected Path

The latest forecast path and wind speeds from the National Hurricane Center.

Storm Information

Current Information

So, where exactly is the center located now? If you're plotting the storm along with us, the information depicted in the map above provides the latitude/longitude coordinates, distance away from the nearest land location, maximum sustained winds and central pressure (measured in millibars).  

Infrared Satellite

Infrared Satellite

This infrared satellite image shows how cold (and therefore how high) the cloud tops are. Brighter orange and red shadings concentrated near the center of circulation signify a healthy tropical cyclone.

Visible Satellite

Visible Satellite

This visible satellite image shows clouds as they would appear to the naked eye from outer space. As a result, this image will not show any data during local nighttime hours in the affected area.

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Hurricane Igor is featured in this Sept. 14, 2010, image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station. (NASA)