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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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The Eastern Pacific hurricane season continues to churn out storms, with Hurricane Flossie becoming the earliest F-named storm on record.
Why It Matters
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, two weeks earlier than the Central Pacific and Atlantic hurricane seasons, which started on June 1. Each hurricane season runs through November 30.
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Tropical Storm Alvin kicked off the Eastern Pacific season in late May when it formed off the coast of Mexico and brought heavy rain across the U.S. Southwest. Alvin was followed by Hurricane Barbara, Tropical Storm Cosme, Tropical Storm Dalila and Hurricane Erick.
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What To Know
Flossie strengthened into a major hurricane on Tuesday. As of the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), maximum sustained winds are 115 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane.
"The average for the first F-named storm is August 3," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek. "We are basically over a month ahead of schedule for the Eastern Pacific season, so it has certainly gotten off to a hot start."
Although the storm is trekking further into the ocean, a public advisory issued by the NHC said that heavy rainfall was possible in the Mexican states of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco through Wednesday. In addition to heavy rainfall, dangerous swells and life-threatening rip currents generated by the major hurricane could impact coastal southwestern Mexico and the Baja California peninsula over the next few days.
"Little change in strength is forecast this morning, with rapid weakening expected to begin by the end of the day," the NHC forecast said.
In addition to Flossie, the NHC is monitoring another disturbance in the Eastern Pacific that has a 50 percent chance of formation within the next seven days.
AccuWeather meteorologists are anticipating 14 to 18 tropical storms and seven to 10 hurricanes for the Eastern Pacific this season. An average season produces 15 tropical storms and four hurricanes, according to AccuWeather.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a below-normal hurricane season for the Eastern Pacific with 12 to 18 named storms. Of those, five to 10 will likely become hurricanes, and two to five could develop into major hurricanes.
What People Are Saying
Hurricane specialist and meteorologist Dylan Federico, on Facebook on Tuesday night: "FLOSSIE A MAJOR - The eastern Pacific Basin continues its record breaking 2025 Hurricane Season, with Flossie being the earliest F storm on record, and now a major hurricane. The Eastern Pacific typically sees its second major around August 15th, so we're way ahead of schedule. The good news is Flossie is going out to sea and is fish food!"
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek: "We expected it to be an active season this year across the Eastern Pacific. We have already seen two major hurricanes. The average second major hurricane is August 15. So, we are a month and a half ahead of schedule."
The NHC, in a public advisory: "Outer bands of Hurricane Flossie continue to bring locally heavy rainfall to coastal portions of the Mexican states of Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco into Wednesday. Localized flash flooding is possible. Large swells generated by Flossie will cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula during the next few days."
What Happens Next
Flossie is expected to begin weakening soon. There's a chance another tropical storm will form in the Eastern Pacific in the next week. If it does, it will be named Gil.
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