Pacific Hurricane Karina Reaches Category 1 Strength, Threatens Coastal Swells
Tropical Storm Karina intensified into a Category 1 hurricane in the Pacific, staying far from land but generating hazardous surf for parts of Mexico's coast.
On Sunday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Karina upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, achieving maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The cyclone's eye was positioned about 820 miles (1,325 km) southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, tracking northwest at 15 mph. Although the storm is not forecast to make landfall, its outer bands are likely to generate strong surf and rip currents along the coasts of southwest Mexico and the peninsula.
In the same basin, Tropical Storm Lowell remained distant, situated roughly 1,150 miles (1,850 km) southeast of Hawaii, also posing no danger to land. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that the Atlantic season is expected to be below average due to El Niño, projecting eight to 14 named storms, with three to six reaching hurricane strength and one to three becoming major hurricanes.
Why it matters
Karina's upgrade raises surf hazards for coastal communities in Mexico, prompting safety alerts.
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