Former Tropical Storm Jova rapidly intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California during Tuesday night. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Jova was located at latitude 13.6°N and longitude 109.6°W which put it about 640 miles (1035 km) southeast of the southern tip of Baja California. Jova was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

The maximum sustained wind speed in former Tropical Storm Jova increased 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) during the past 24 hours. The inner end of a rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of Hurricane Jova. The strongest winds were occurring in the inner end of the rainband. A small circular eye was starting to appear on microwave satellite images. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Jova. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (20 km) from the center of Jova’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Jova will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Jova will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Jova’s circulation. The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the east and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Jova will intensify during the next 36 hours. Jova is likely to strengthen to a major hurricane by Wednesday.

Hurricane Jova will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over northern Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Jova toward the west-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Jova will stay far to the southwest of Baja California.