(RNN) – Tropical Storms Jose and Katia are both now hurricanes. Jose is in the Atlantic, and is expected to turn more to the north later in the week from its current westward track.
As Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma and Jose swirls in the ocean, Tropical Storm Katia popped up in the Gulf of Mexico to become the 11th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. It is now a hurricane and is packing winds of 75 mph and is moving southeast at 3 mph.
The active season is taking a toll on the National Hurricane Center's website. The government agency issued a warning that website load times are slow because of heavy traffic.
Katia is located about 185 miles east of Tampico, Mexico.
A hurricane watch has been issued for the Mexican state of Veracruz.
Katia is forecast to turn southeastward in the next 24 hours and will move in that direction before turning southwest on Friday, according to the NHC. The center of Katia is expected to remain off the shore of Mexico through Friday morning.
Some strengthening of the storm is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, Jose is swirling in the Atlantic, located about 1,135 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
Jose is stronger than Katia with sustained winds of 75 mph, and it is moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
No watches or warnings are in effect for Jose.
The storm is forecast to begin moving slightly faster in a west-northwest motion during the next two days, according to the NHC.
With Tropical Storms Katia and Jose posing little threat to land as of yet, all eyes remain on Hurricane Irma.
The potentially catastrophic category 5 storm made landfall in the Caribbean early Wednesday morning.
