Tropical Storm Miriam Now Category 2 Storm in Pacific
Tropical Storm Miriam has only been an official storm for two days but is quickly gaining speed and strength, forecasters have said. While it started out over the Pacific Ocean, south of Baja California, officials have said it could travel west but is not likely to cause any damage.
The storm quickly became a Category 2 hurricane but has not posed any threat to land. It currently has winds of up to 105 miles per hour and could still gather strength and power to become a Category 3. Thankfully it is far enough over the Pacific that damage is not expected to hit land, which is why there are no watches or warnings at this time.
This, of course, is the official hurricane season for both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. While the seasons begin on different dates, both end on November 30. So far this season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been a total of 13 named tropical storms, 9 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes during the Pacific hurricane season.
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In order to qualify as a major hurricane, a storm must be classified as a Category 3 or above: Hurricanes Bud, Daniel, and Emilia have ranged from Category 3 to Category 4 storms. Thankfully, at least half of all storms and hurricanes have not caused significant damage to the areas they affected in the Pacific.
Miriam may actually take a "turn toward land late in the week or this weekend. Residents and visitors in Baja California should stay aware of the situation, but it is far too early to recommend any urgent action," according to The Weather Channel.
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Nadine has weakened and moved farther away from land. Nadine's winds had a peak strength of 50 miles per hour.
