Jimena intensifies further – strengthens to Category 4 storm

August 30, 2009

Hurricane Jimena grew into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm on Sunday as it roared up Mexico’s Pacific Coast, set to buffet the resort of Los Cabos early next week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters say Jimena is now a dangerous Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and it may intensifyeven more as it swirls offshore. The National Hurricane Center says people in western Mexico and the southern part of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula are being advised to monitor Jimena. The center’s track shows the storm could make landfall by Wednesday on the Baja California peninsula. On Sunday, it had maximum sustained winds near 135 mph (215 kmh) and was moving northwest near 9 mph (15 kph.) It was centered about 285 miles (460 km) south of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Hurricanes of Category 3 or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale are considered “major” and are the most destructive type!