Priscilla nears major hurricane status in Pacific as new tropical storm swirls in the Atlantic

Hurricane Priscilla Nears Category 3 Status as Tropical Storm Jerry Strengthens in Atlantic

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Priscilla was approaching Category 3 strength on Tuesday in the Pacific, while a new tropical storm was gaining power in the Atlantic, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Located just off the west coast of Mexico, Priscilla was spinning with maximum sustained winds of around 105 mph (169 kph) and moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). As of Tuesday night, the hurricane was centered about 185 miles (295 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

On Tuesday, the outer bands of Hurricane Priscilla were extending across the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The Mexican government responded by issuing a tropical storm watch for Baja California Sur, from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro.

In a preventive measure, the government of Baja California Sur canceled classes at all educational centers starting Tuesday in Los Cabos and La Paz. They also set up a dozen shelters in Los Cabos for residents living in high-risk areas.

Parts of southwestern Mexico could receive up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain from Priscilla through Wednesday, raising the risk of flash flooding, especially in the states of Michoacán and Colima, forecasters warned.

Priscilla is expected to weaken starting Wednesday. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher, with wind speeds of at least 111 mph (180 kph). Swells from Priscilla were already reaching the coast of Mexico, causing life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.

Atlantic Tropical Storm Jerry Strengthens

In the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Jerry maintained top winds of 50 mph (85 kph) early Wednesday. The storm was centered approximately 950 miles (1,530 kilometers) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest at 23 mph (37 kph).

Forecasters said Jerry is expected to strengthen into a hurricane within the next day or two. Swells from Jerry were anticipated to reach the Leeward Islands by Thursday, with the storm’s core moving near or north of the northern Leeward Islands late Thursday and Friday.

A tropical storm watch was issued for Barbuda and Anguilla, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, and Sint Maarten as a precaution.

Other Pacific Activity

Farther out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Octave was weakening about 750 miles (1,205 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. It was moving east-southeast at 7 mph (11 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph).

Officials continue to monitor the evolving storm activity as the hurricane season progresses.

https://fox5sandiego.com/weather/ap-hurricane-priscilla-strengthens-to-a-category-2-storm-as-it-runs-along-the-pacific-coast-of-mexico/