Rick becomes the second strongest hurricane after Linda of 1997
October 17, 2009
With 180 mph winds Rick becomes the second strongest eastern North Pacific hurricane on record after Linda of 1997.
Interests in southern Baja California and the southwest coast of Mexico should monitor the progress of this severe hurricane.
Image credits: NOAA
At 800 PM PDT/0300 UTC the eye of Hurricane Rick was located near latitude 15.0 north/longitude 105.9 west or about 295 miles/475 km south-southwest of Manzanillo Mexico and about 605 miles 975 km south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Rick is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph/22 km/hr and this motion is expected to continue on Sunday. A gradual turn to the northwest and north should begin on Monday. Satellite images indicate that Rick has continued to strengthen and the maximum sustained winds are now estimated near 180mph/285 km/hr with higher gusts. Rick is an extremely dangerous category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.
Some fluctuations in intensity are likely on Sunday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles/75 km from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 155 miles/250 km. Estimated minimum central pressure is 906 mb/26.75 inches.
Large swells generated by Rick will affect portions of the southern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days causing potentially dangerous surf conditions.
Related posts:
- Hurricane “Rick” now an extremely dangerous category four hurricane
- Extremely dangerous hurricane Rick still strengthening!
- Tropical Storm Rick
- Rick nabs attention with its rapid evolution
- Rick continues to rapidly intensify
Posted in Baja California, Baja Clima, Baja Sur, Forecast, Hurricane, Los Cabos, Mexico, Tropical Storm
