Major Hurricane Sandra has rapidly strengthened today with top winds of 115 mph and further strengthening is possible as the hurricane is still over extremely warm waters. This is the first time that the National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories for a Pacific Hurricane this late in the year, particularly this one because it may become the latest hurricane observed to make landfall so late in the hurricane season on the Pacific side. There have been many hurricanes in the Atlantic at this time of year but the Atlantic side of the hurricane season seems to have died out weeks ago.
…SANDRA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES TO MAJOR HURRICANE STRENGTH…
SUMMARY OF 200 PM MST…2100 UTC…INFORMATION
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LOCATION…13.0N 109.9W
ABOUT 555 MI…895 KM SW OF MANZANILLO MEXICO
ABOUT 685 MI…1100 KM S OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…115 MPH…185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 325 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…967 MB…28.56 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Satellite shows a fairly well defined eye that has developed. The hurricane has a little more time to strengthen before it becomes involved with strong south to southwest winds aloft that will turn Sandra northeastward. The strong winds aloft will likely weaken Sandra to a tropical storm before landfall on Saturday.
Some of the moisture from Sandra is destined for Texas over the weekend so some flooding rains are likely there. Colder air in North Texas will mean some ice and snow there.
This has been quite the hurricane season on the Pacific side thanks to El Nino and the extremely warm waters. Remember it produced one of the strongest hurricanes ever observed in Hurricane Patricia several weeks ago. More on Sandra is available from the National Hurricane Center.
JOESTRADAMUS LONG RANGE FORECAST