Hurricane Jova rapidly intensified to a major hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Baja California on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Jova was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 111.7°W which put it about 565 miles (910 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Jova was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 953 mb.

Hurricane Jova intensified very rapidly to a major hurricane on Wednesday. A circular eye with a diameter of 12 miles (19 km) formed at the center of Jova’s circulation. 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 Jova. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the hurricane. The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

Hurricane Jova rapidly intensified to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Jova’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) was 25.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 7.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 32.5.

Hurricane Jova will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Jova will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Jova will intensify during the next 24 hours. Jova could strengthen to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

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 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Jova will stay far to the southwest of Baja California.