Hurricane Fausto continued to spin over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Tuesday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Fausto was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 120.3°W which put the center about 805 miles (1295 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Fausto was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 984 mb.
Hurricane Fausto was showing signs of strengthening on Tuesday evening. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Fausto’s circulation. A small eye was appearing in microwave satellite images. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Fausto. Storms near the center of Fausto generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The size of the circulation around Hurricane Fausto increased on Tuesday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Fausto’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Hurricane Fausto.
Hurricane Fausto will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Fausto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is southwest of Mexico. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Fausto will intensify during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane Fausto will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Fausto toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Fausto will continue to move farther away from Mexico. Fausto is likely to move over the Central Pacific Ocean during the upcoming weekend.