Tropical storm Carlotta is on path to strike southwestern Mexico Saturday as the third named storm of an active 2018 hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center said.
Carlotta was spotted at 2 p.m. 60 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. The tropical system strengthened from a depression Friday once its maximum sustained winds rose to 40 miles per hour, the NHC advisory said. It will likely make landfall Saturday morning before traveling northeast up the coast at 5 miles per hour.
The storm could move inland Sunday before dissipating, the NHC said, and residents of all affected areas can expect three to six inches of rain. Flash floods and mudslides are likely throughout the weekend, particularly in areas of higher elevation.
The service issued tropical storm warnings for cities between Tecpan de Galeana and Lagunas de Chacahua. Carlotta's wind strength could intensify between the next 12 to 24 hours, the advisory said.
Carlotta is the third named storm of the season following subtropical storm Alberto and Hurricane Bud. The latter Pacific system weakened to a tropical depression Friday, but could still cause flash flooding throughout Saturday in the southwestern U.S. and parts of the Rocky Mountains as it moves inland.
Both Pacific and Atlantic hurricane seasons will see three to seven hurricanes, according to National Weather Service predictions. The 2018 season is already considered "unusual" since most third name storms don't form until early July, the Weather Channel said.
The typical Atlantic hurricane season officially starts June 1, but subtropical storm Alberto was named May 25. Two reporters were killed in North Carolina May 28 while covering the subtropical storm when a tree fell and crushed their vehicle.
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