Former Tropical Storm Felicia quickly intensified to a hurricane on Thursday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Felicia was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 118.6°W which put it about 775 miles (1250 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Felicia was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.

The circulation around former Tropical Storm Felicia organized quickly during the past 24 hours. A small circular eye developed at the center of Felicia. A ring of strong thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the core of Hurricane Felicia. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The circulation around Hurricane Felicia was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Felicia. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Felicia will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Felicia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Felicia will continue to intensify and it could strengthen to a major hurricane on Friday.

Hurricane Felicia will move south of a subtropical high pressure system during the next few days. The high will steer Felicia toward the west. On its anticipated track Hurricane Felicia will move toward the Central Pacific Ocean.