Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) report that Tropical Storm Julio will be absorbed by the larger Tropical Storm Iselle later Tuesday as the two systems converge over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The interaction will leave Iselle as the dominant storm, though no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
The merger is expected to occur over open water, with both storms remaining far from land. Iselle, currently the stronger system, had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph as of Tuesday morning, while Julio carried winds of 50 mph and was moving faster toward Iselle. The NHC noted that Iselle could generate dangerous swells along parts of Baja California, though impacts are expected to remain offshore.
Storm Details and Forecasts
As of the latest advisory, Tropical Storm Iselle was located approximately 730 miles west of Baja California, moving northwest at 10 mph. Forecasters expect Iselle to gradually weaken over the coming days but maintain tropical storm strength. Tropical Storm Julio, positioned about 675 miles west-southwest of Baja California, was moving north-northeast at 22 mph with little additional strengthening expected before absorption.
Meteorologists have highlighted the unusual nature of the interaction, with satellite imagery showing the two storms spiraling closer before merging into a single tropical cyclone. The NHC emphasized that the combined system will not pose a direct threat to coastal areas, though rough surf and rip currents may affect western Mexico and Southern California later this week.
Broader Pacific Activity
Beyond Iselle and Julio, the NHC is monitoring Tropical Storm Lala in the central Pacific, which is not threatening land but previously caused destructive flooding in Hawaii as a hurricane. The remnants of Tropical Storm Moke, which skirted Hawaii, are no longer considered a tropical cyclone. Additionally, the NHC is tracking multiple areas of disturbed weather across the Atlantic and Pacific, though none are forecast to impact the continental U.S. directly in the near term.
AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva, noted that while no U.S. landfalls are expected from the eastern Pacific systems, the increased tropical activity could lead to dangerous surf and rip currents along western Mexico and Southern California. Longer-term monitoring is advised for Atlantic systems, with potential impacts not expected until late next week at the earliest.