Hurricane Fausto strengthened on Thursday as it moved toward the Central Pacific Ocean. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Fausto was located at latitude 18.3°N and longitude 128.4°W which put the center about 1745 miles (2805 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii. Fausto was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.
Hurricane Fausto strengthened on Thursday. A small circular eye formed at the center of Fausto’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 center of Hurricane Fausto. Storms near the center of Fausto generated more upper level divergence that pumped more mass away from the hurricane. The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease on Thursday.
The size of the circulation around Hurricane Fausto increased on Thursday. Winds to hurricane force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northern side of Fausto’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 185 miles (295 km) in the northern half of Hurricane Fausto. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) in the southern half of Fausto’s circulation.
Hurricane Fausto will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Fausto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°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. There is drier air just to the north and west of Hurricane Fausto. The drier air could inhibit the development of thunderstorms in bands in the northern and western parts of Fausto’s circulation. Hurricane Fausto could intensify a little more on Friday if the drier air does not prevent the formation of new thunderstorms.
Hurricane Fausto will move around the southern part of a high pressure system that is over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Fausto toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Fausto will continue to move toward the Central Pacific Ocean.