Hurricane Kiko strengthened to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Kiko was located at latitude 17.0°N and longitude 121.1°W which put it about 835 miles (1340 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Kiko was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (215 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 950 mb.

The circulation around Hurricane Kiko remained well organized.  A circular eye with a diameter of 24 miles (39 km) was at the center of Kiko.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Kiko.  Kiko remained a small hurricane.  Winds to hurricane force extended out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 70 miles (110 km).

Hurricane Kiko will move through an environment capable of supporting a major hurricane for another day or two.  Kiko move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through a region where the winds are blowing from the east at all levels and there is little vertical wind shear.  Sinking motion on the south side of a subtropical high pressure system north of Kiko could transport some drier air toward the hurricane.  Hurricane Kiko could be near its peak intensity, but it is likely to remain a powerful hurricane for several more days.

The subtropical ridge over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean will steer Hurricane Kiko toward the west during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Kiko will move away from Baja California and in the general direction of Hawaii.