The first hurricane of the Pacific season has formed off the coast of Mexico according to the United States National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

Hurricane Celia formed 350 miles off the coast of Acapulco, with the NHC now expecting “some strengthening” of the Category One storm over the next two days.

However, despite sustained winds of some 80 miles per hour, the hurricane presently presents no danger to land and is believed to be moving away from Mexico at a rate of nine miles per hour.

Mexico’s oil export facilities in the Gulf of Mexico are also well away from Celia’s path – with the centre of hurricane presently located near latitude 11.8 north, longitude 102.1 west.

Atlantic Hurricane Season

Meteorologists have, however, raised concerns hurricanes in the Atlantic - which are expected to start in August - could disrupt efforts to stem the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill off the US coast.

The news follows warnings from the British Met Office last week that as many as 27 storms could be recorded in the North Atlantic this year, well ahead of the long-term average of 12.4 storms per year.

Hurricane season is predicted to last until November.