Karina becomes major Cat. 3 hurricane in Pacific Ocean
Hurricane Katrina was located nearly 1,000 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula on Sunday evening. Image courtesy NOAA
Aug. 30 (UPI) — Karina rapidly strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane Sunday evening and was moving west over the Pacific Ocean, forecasters said.
The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was located about 960 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California in northwestern Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. PDT update.
It was moving west at 9 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 5 miles, according to the NHC.
Forecasters said the storm is expected to take a slower westward to west-northwest motion over the next few days, with some additional strengthening possible.
Swells generated by the storm are forecast to affect the coast of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula during that time, according to the NHC, which warned that they are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.