Hurricane Linda rapidly intensified to a major hurricane south of Baja California on Friday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Linda was located at latitude 17.5°N and longitude 112.9°W which put it about 420 miles (675 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Linda was moving toward the west-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 135 m.p.h. (220 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 965 mb.

Hurricane Linda rapidly intensified into a major hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Friday afternoon. A circular eye with a diameter of 23 miles (35 km) was evident on visible satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Linda. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Linda. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Linda will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Linda 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 Linda could continue to intensify during the next 12 hours. Linda will start to move over slightly cooler water on Saturday, which is likely to cause the hurricane to start to weaken.

Hurricane Linda will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high will steer Linda toward the west during the next few days. On its anticipated track Hurricane Linda will move farther away from Mexico.