Former Tropical Storm John rapidly intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Monday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane John was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 98.4°W which put the center about 85 miles (135 km) south of Punta Maldonado, Mexico.   John was moving toward the north at 3 m.p.h. (5 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 980 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Bahias de Huatulco, Mexico.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bahias de Huatulco to Salina Cruz, Mexico.  A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Maldonado to Acapulco, Mexico.

Former Tropical Storm John continued to intensify rapidly on Monday afternoon.  A small eye was present at the center of Hurricane John.  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 John.  Storms near the core of John’s circulation generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane John was small.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of John’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Hurricane John.

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

Hurricane John will move around the southeastern part of a large counterclockwise circulation over southern Mexico sometimes called a Central American Gyre (CAG).  The large counterclockwise circulation will steer John slowly toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane John will reach the coast of Mexico near Punta Maldonado on Tuesday.

Hurricane John could be a major hurricane when it approaches the coast of Mexico.  John will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of southern Mexico.  Very heavy rain is likely to fall in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and southeast Guerrero.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Tropical Storm John also could cause a storm surge of 12 feet (3.6 meters) along parts of the coast.