Hurricane Orlene rapidly intensified to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Orlene was located at latitude 18.4°N and longitude 106.9°W which put it about 160 miles (255 km) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Orlene was moving toward the north at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Las Islas Marias. A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from San Blas to Mazatlan, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Playa Perula to San Blas, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Mazatlan to Bahia Tempehuaya, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Playa Perula to San Blas, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Manzanillo to Playa Perula, Mexico.

Hurricane Orlene rapidly intensified on Saturday night. A circular eye with a diameter of 13 miles (20 km) was at the center of Hurricane Orlene. 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 core of Orlene’s circulation. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Orlene was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of Orlene. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) was 19.2. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 5.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 24.5. Hurricane Orlene was capable of causing localized serious damage.

Hurricane Orlene will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Orlene will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. Orlene will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Orlene is likely to intensify during the next 12 hours. Orlene could continue to intensify rapidly. Hurricane Orlene is likely to strengthen to a major hurrican by Sunday morning. An upper level trough over northwestern Mexico will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Orlene’s circulation later on Sunday. Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase. Hurricane Orlene is likely to weaken when the wind shear increases.

Hurricane Orlene will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Orlene toward the north during the next 18 hours. The upper level trough over northwestern Mexico will steer Hurricane Orlene toward the north-northeast on Sunday night and Monday. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Orlene will hit Las Islas Marias early on Monday morning. Orlene is likely to make landfall on the west coast of Mexico on Monday afternoon.