Lowell was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday and additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, National Hurricane Center forecasters said Friday morning.
Lowell, the 12th named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, as of 5 a.m. Friday was moving toward the northwest at 10 mph, forecasters said. It was packing 60 mph winds, however, further weakening is expected during the next 48 hours.
Lowell is expected to remain in a light shear environment for the next few days, with the intensity being controlled by decreasing sea surface temperatures along the forecast track. Lowell is expected to be downgraded to a remnant low by Sunday.
Tropical storm force winds currently extend outward up to 185 miles from Lowell’s center.
Forecasters said that surf generated by the storm will continue to affect the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. The surf will likely cause life-threatening waves and rip currents, they added.
National Hurricane Center officials in May predicted 14 to 20 named storms and seven to 11 hurricanes — including three to six major hurricanes — to form this year in the Eastern Pacific Basin. Overall, they gave the 2014 season a 50 percent chance of being above normal, 40 percent chance of being near-normal and a 10 percent chance of being below normal.
The Eastern Pacific averages 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes each year, according to the center.
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season began May 15 and ends Nov. 30.