Hurricane Gilma strengthened to a major hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean between Baja California and Hawaii on Thursday morning.   At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Gilma was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 124.2°W which put the center about 1025 miles (1650 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Gilma was moving toward the west-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (220 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 963 mb.

Hurricane Gilma strengthened to a major hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean between Baja California and Hawaii on Thursday morning.  A circular eye with a diameter of 17 miles (28 km) was present at the center of Gilma’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 Gilma.  Storms near the core of Gilma generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Hurricane Gilma was symmetrical.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Gilma’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Hurricane Gilma.

Hurricane Gilma will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Gilma will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Eastern north Pacific Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Gilma’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Hurricane Gilma is likely to continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Gilma will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Gilma slowly toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Gilma will move farther away from Baja California.