Tropical storm rapidly strengthens into a hurricane in the Pacific

Tropical storm Karina is gaining power over the Pacific Ocean and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane within the next day or two, forecasters said Sunday.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Karina is currently a Category 1 hurricane carrying maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm is located roughly 880 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, moving west-northwest at a slow 9 mph pace.

“Steady to rapid strengthening seems likely, and Karina is forecast to become a major hurricane in a day or so,” the hurricane center said. A major hurricane is Category 3 or greater.

Forecasters said that the environmental conditions will start to become less favorable for the storm to grow by Monday, at which the intensification process would come to a halt.

Meteorologists warn that Karina poses a direct hazard to land via dangerous ocean conditions.

“Swells generated by Karina will affect portions of the coast of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula for the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office,” said the National Hurricane Center.

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a quieter-than-usual Atlantic hurricane season due to high wind shear driven by El Niño –– forecasting a total of 8-14 named storms.

Forecasters estimate three to six of those systems will reach hurricane strength, with one to three potentially intensifying into major Category 3 or higher hurricanes.

By comparison, a typical Atlantic season generates 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

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