Former Tropical Storm Bonnie intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Sunday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Bonnie was located at latitude 13.2°N and longitude 95.5°W which put it about 210 miles (335 km) south of Salina Cruz, Mexico. Bonnie was moving toward the west-northwest at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

A larger, ragged eye appeared at the center of Hurricane Bonnie on Sunday night. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Bonnie. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the eastern side of Bonnie’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Bonnie.

Hurricane Bonnie will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Bonnie will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the southern side of an upper level ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Bonnie’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Hurricane Bonnie will intensify during the next 36 hours. A period of rapid intensification could occur after the ring of thunderstorms around the eye becomes fully formed. Bonnie could strengthen to a major hurricane early next week.

Tropical Storm Bonnie will move south of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Bonnie toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Bonnie will remain south of the coast of Mexico.