I guess God is bigger than meteorologists
Sat Aug 29, 6:20 pm ET
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) – Hurricane Jimena surged to a Catergory Two storm Saturday as it churned northward off Mexico’s central Pacific coast, after dumping heavy rains on the resort city of Acapulco, US forecasters said.
“Jimena is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale,” said the National Hurricane Center in Miami, adding that the tempest’s maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (165 kilometers per hour) are expected to strengthen further.
“Jimena could become a major hurricane by Sunday,” the center warned.
Earlier Mexican authorities assured that Jimena — currently moving west-northwest at nearly 12 mph (19 kph) — was not expected to make landfall.
At 2100 GMT Jimena’s eye was churning 270 miles (435 km) south of the major Pacific port city of Manzanillo, central Mexico, and about 655 miles (1055 km) southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.
Jimena has already caused “intense heavy rain with flooding in the lowlands and landslides in mountains” in the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco on the Pacific coast, a Mexican weather official said earlier Saturday.
“In the next 36 to 48 hours, Jimena may gather strength... but will stay away from the coast, no landfall,” the official told AFP.
JIMENA
Hurricane Jimena has strengthened into a category 4 hurricane. As of 8am PDT Sunday Jimena was located about 515 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with top winds of 135 mph. It is moving off to the northwest at 9 mph.
The northwest motion should continue through Sunday with a turn toward the north expected Monday.
The forecast calls for Jimena to strengthen to 145 mph winds by Monday. Jimena should maintain those 145 mph into Tuesday as it makes a run at Baja California.
High waves being generated by Jimena could reach the Mexican coastline this afternoon from 100 miles south of Manzanillo to Puerto Vallarta. Dangerous rip currents will also be generated by the high surf in the same area. Surfers and swimmers should stay out of the water.
Jimena could approach Baja California near Cabo San Lucas Tuesday afternoon or night as a major hurricane. The last major hurricane to directly hit Baja California was Hurricane Kiko on August 27, 1989.
KEVIN
Tropical Storm Kevin strengthened a bit overnight and had top winds of 50 mph as of 8am PDT Sunday. Kevin was located about 950 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas and is moving toward the north-northeast at 7 mph. Kevin is not a threat to land.