At this point, it feels like somebody hit the hyperdrive button on the Pacific.

Hot on the heels of record-smashing Hurricane Polo, and with powerful Hurricane Nolo still spinning southwest of Hawaii, Tropical Storm Rachel has formed off Mexico — and forecasters expect yet another hurricane within days.

As of midday Monday, the National Hurricane Center placed Rachel about 225 miles south-southwest of Acapulco, packing sustained winds of 50 mph and moving west-northwest at 8 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds already extend as far as 160 miles from its center. NHC forecasters say “gradual strengthening is expected,” with Rachel forecast to become a hurricane by midweek.

Rachel should remain offshore while paralleling southwestern Mexico, but that doesn’t mean the coast escapes.…