Tropical Storm Marie May Impact California This Week
A new tropical storm is developing off the coast of Mexico and may affect California with strong waves and rain. The National Hurricane Center indicates that this system could be named Marie within the next 48 hours, with a 90 percent likelihood of formation.
This storm would be the third in the Central/Eastern Pacific, joining Hurricane Karina, currently a Category 4 storm, and Tropical Storm Lowell, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane. Unlike Karina and Lowell, models suggest Marie may take a different path, possibly heading north towards Baja California or veering west into the Pacific.
Forecasts from Google's DeepMind indicate that Marie could reach Category 3 strength while moving northwest toward California. However, it is unlikely to maintain hurricane status upon reaching the coast due to cooler ocean temperatures. The moisture from the storm could still lead to significant rainfall, reminiscent of the flooding caused by Hurricane Hillary in August 2023. Southern California may experience increased surf starting Friday evening, continuing through Labor Day weekend, with more clarity on the storm's impact expected in the coming days.
