Things are hotting up in the eastern Pacific. Two tropical storms are already swirling over the warm ocean, and one of them has now gained considerable strength. Karina is already a Category 4 hurricane.

Lowell is also set to reach hurricane strength. As things stand, both storms will remain over the open Pacific and pose no direct threat to either Mexico or Hawaii.

And there’s already more on the way: a tropical depression has formed off the coast of Mexico. It is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm soon and will then be named Maria.

Maria could also develop into a hurricane by Friday. That would mean we would have three hurricanes in a row over the eastern Pacific – although, as things stand, they pose no direct threat to land.