LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Hurricane Carlotta’s projected path is prompting a Mexico watch today. By Friday, Hurricane Carlotta 2012 will have reached the southern coast of Mexico, officials tell news today. Carlotta is currently a tropical storm; but the National Hurricane Center informed news this morning that Carlotta will be upgraded to hurricane status within the next twenty-four hours.

Hurricane Carlotta 2012 bares the same name as a horrible hurricane twelve years earlier. Hurricane Carlotta 2000 began from a tropical wave off Mexico. It became the third tropical cyclone of the year and eventually became the biggest hurricane of the year in the Pacific. It eventually caused massive damage. Several ships were lost including a Lithuanian freighter Linkuva, heading to Long Beach.

For Hurricane Carlotta 2012, however, officials are informing news today of a projected path arriving Friday afternoon. “Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Friday afternoon”, NHC said in a news statement this morning. They added “tropical storm conditions [are] possible by Friday morning.”

A hurricane watch today remains in effect for Barra de Tonala to Punta Maldonado, officials told news. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the area within 48 hours.