Hurricane Karina Reaches Category 3 With 125 mph Winds as It Stays Far From Land
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 31
Hurricane Karina Reaches Category 3 With 125 mph Winds as It Stays Far From Land
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Aug 31
Summary
Karina strengthened from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 3 major storm within hours Sunday, with maximum sustained winds rising to 125 mph.
Warm Pacific waters fueled the rapid intensification, and forecasters said the storm could strengthen a bit more over the next day.
About 960 miles west-southwest of Baja California's southern tip, Karina was moving west at 9 mph on a track expected to carry it farther into the Pacific.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but swells were expected to bring dangerous surf and rip currents to parts of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Lowell had 50 mph winds and could reach hurricane strength by Monday night or Tuesday, though it also posed no immediate land threat.