Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell form in the Pacific Ocean as Dolly churns in the Atlantic

Key Points:

• Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell formed in the Pacific Ocean and are expected to strengthen into hurricanes within the next few days, with Karina posing a risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents along southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula.
• Tropical Storm Dolly developed in the Atlantic Ocean, far from land, but is forecast to bring heavy rain to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola over the weekend and early next week, with potential flash flooding.
• There are currently no coastal watches or warnings for any of the three storms, but the National Hurricane Center is monitoring them closely due to their potential impacts.
• The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be below average due to El Niño, with 8 to 14 named storms expected, including 3 to 6 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.
• Storm names are assigned by the World Meteorological Organization to facilitate clear communication; the name "Melissa" was retired after the 2025 season due to its association with a devastating Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean.