Less than 24 hours after being dubbed a hurricane,Tropical Storm Barbarahas weakened. At the same time, the National Hurricane Center continues to track Tropical Storm Cosme and another area of low pressure that could develop into a system. Barbarais expected to continue diminishing through Tuesday.Tropical Storm Cosmeis expected to weaken through Thursday morning. Both storms are being tracked through the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of southwestern Mexico, according to the NHC. Another area of low pressure off the coast of Mexico is expected to develop into a tropical depression later this week as "environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system," according to the NHC. This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need anevacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath,NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for aninsurance check-upto make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or theNational Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down yourhurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings. Contributing: Jay Cannon, USA TODAY Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,InstagramandTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Storm tracker: See path of Tropical Storms Barbara, Cosme
