With hurricane season ramping up, weather experts say they expect 2016 to be one of the most active seasons experienced in several years. We're seeing evidence of this with the increasing number of storm systems churning in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

There are currently two named Tropical Storms active, one working its way through the Atlantic, the other in the Pacific, and both are expected to be hurricanes by this weekend.

According to the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), posted at 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday Aug. 25, Tropical Storm Lester is strengthening in the Eastern North Pacific.

The center of this storm is currently located approximately 180 miles south-southwest of Socorro Island and 465 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Lester is moving in a west-northwesterly path at about 12 miles per hour and is projected to gradually take a turn toward the west between now and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are being measured near 50 miles per hour with higher gusts being recorded, while tropical storm force winds are currently extending outward up to 45 miles from the storm's center. The estimated minimum central pressure right now is 1002mb (29.59 inches).

According to NHC meteorologists and hurricane experts, Tropical Storm Lester is expected to continue building in strength over the next 24-48 hours and is forecast to become Hurricane Lester by Friday.

Meanwhile, in the central Atlantic, NHC has just posted an update on the status of Hurricane Gaston, which, as of 11:00 a.m. EST, was downgraded to tropical storm status.

As of this most recent update Gaston was located approximately 1,160 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands, near latitude 20.4 north and longitutde 44.4 west. This tropical storm system is moving in a northwesterly path near 17 miles per hour and is expected to continue on this trajectory through Friday. By Saturday, however, a turn toward the west-northwest is expected, as is a decrease in forward speed.

Currently, maximum sustained winds from Gaston have decreased from 75 miles per hour earlier on Thursday to approximately 70 miles per hour, with higher gusts being reported. Tropical storm force winds are extending outward up to 115 miles from the storm's center and the estimated minimum central pressure for this system is 992mb (29.30 inches).

The NHC forecast notes that additional weakening of this storm can be expected throughout the day on Thursday. However, beginning Friday night Gaston is expected to regain its strength steadily, and is likely to become a hurricane again by Saturday.

Please check back in with us at LatinPost.com for updates on these and other storms brewing over the coming days and months as the 2016 hurricane season continues on.