Rapidly intensifying Hurricane John hit the coast of Mexico near Punta Maldonado on Monday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane John was located at latitude 16.3°N and longitude 98.8°W which put the center about 15 miles (25 km) west of Punta Maldonado, Mexico.   John was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h).v  The minimum surface pressure was 959 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco 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. 

Hurricane John rapidly intensified to a major hurricane as it approached the coast of Mexico near Punta Maldonado on Monday night.  A circular eye with a diameter of 6 miles (10 km) was at the center of John’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 John.

The circulation around Hurricane John was very 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.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane John was 22.1  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 4.1 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 26.1.  Hurricane John was capable of causing localized major damage.

Hurricane John will move inland over eastern Guerrero and western Oaxaca on Tuesday.  John will bring strong winds and heavy rain to the region around Punta Maldonado.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Hurricane John could also cause a storm surge of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) along the coast near Punta Maldonado.

Hurricane John will weaken very quickly as it moves inland because of the small size of its circulation.  Even though John will weaken quickly, it will still drop heavy rain over parts of eastern Guerrero and western Oaxaca.  Flash floods are likely to occur in that region on Tuesday before Hurricane John dissipates.