Former Tropical Storm Hilary rapidly intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the southern part of Baja California. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Hilary was located at latitude 15.2°N and longitude 107.1°W which put it about 320 miles (515 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Hilary was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast of Baja California from Cabo San Lazaro to San Evaristo, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Watch included Cabo San Lucas.

Former Tropical Storm Hilary rapidly intensified to a hurricane on Thursday morning. An eye was visible on satellite images at the center of Hurricane Hilary. The eye was surrounded by a 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 Hilary. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Hilary was large. Winds to hurricane force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of Hilary’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 275 miles (445 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Hilary will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Hilary will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Hilary will intensify during the next 24 hours. Hilary could intensify rapidly at times. Hurricane Hilary is likely to strengthen to a major hurricane on Friday.

Hurricane Hilary will move around the western part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Hilary toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Hurricane Hilary will move toward Baja California. Hilary will move more toward the north when it reaches the western end of the high pressure system during the weekend. Hurricane Hilary will start to affect Baja California during the weekend.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Greg was passing south of Hawaii and Tropical Storm Fernanda continued to weaken. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Greg was located at latitude 12.1°N and longitude 154.5°W which put it about 675 miles (1085 km) south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Greg was moving toward the west at 13 m.p.h. (21 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.

At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Fernanda was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 130.8°W which put it about 1425 miles (2290 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Fernanda was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.