Hurricane Kay strengthened to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Wednesday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Kay was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 112.3°W which put it about 220 miles (355 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kay was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to San Jose De Las Palmas, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Puerto Cortes, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Bahia De Los Angeles, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning included Cabo San Lucas. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bahia De Los Angeles to San Felipe, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from San Jose De Las Palmas to Cabo San Quintin, Mexico.

Hurricane Kay continue to strengthen on Wednesday morning. A circular eye was present at the center of Kay’s circulation. 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 Kay. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

The circulation around Hurricane Kay was large. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Kay’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Kay was 16.5. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 11.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 27.8. Kay was capable of causing regional serious damage.

Hurricane Kay will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Kay 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 wind shear. Hurricane Kay will intensify during the next 18 hours. Kay could strengthen to a major hurricane.

Hurricane Kay will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Kay toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Kay will approach the west coast of Baja California south of Punta Eugenia on Thursday morning. Kay will bring strong winds to the portion of the coast near Punta Eugenia. Bands on the eastern side of Hurricane Kay will drop locally heavy rain over much of Baja California. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Widespread outages of electricity could occur in Baja California.