NORTH AMERICA - The storm formerly known as tropical storm Blanca has now progressed to hurricane status. Hurricane Blanca is continuing to strengthen, according to The Weather Channel, and is on track toward Mexico's southern Baja peninsula, including Los Cabos. Blanca will likely weaken as it makes its closest approach to Los Cabos on Sunday, but moisture from Blanca is expected to push into parts of the southwestern U.S. next week.

AccuWeather reports that this is the earliest since 1971 that two major hurricanes have formed in the Eastern Pacific. "Blanca is also expected to become the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific, a record that is currently being held by Hurricane Ava from 1973. Ava reached that threshold on June 6 of that year," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. 

As we’ve previously reported, Hurricane Andres brought only rough surf and rip currents to Mexico, but Blanca will bring more direct impacts as it continues to strengthen over the next few days and eventually approaches Baja California.

The current track will take this tropical system closer to the Mexico coastline as it moves northward, but the worst conditions will remain well offshore. Through Blanca will remain over the open ocean through Saturday, large surf and rip currents are expected to increase along the coast of Mexico from Acapulco to near Puerto Vallarta.

The Weather Channel is reporting that effects from the hurricane may reach all the way to the southern U.S., which may see increased rain and possibly thunder storms. Together with high pressure over the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a pipeline of moisture may be pulled north into parts of the Desert Southwest and Rockies early next week.

Stay tuned as AndNowUKnow continues to follow this hurricane’s trajectory.