Former Tropical Storms Priscilla and Octave both intensified to hurricanes over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean on Sunday. At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Priscilla was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 107.1°W which put the center about 285 miles (460 km) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico. Priscilla was moving toward the north-northwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 986 mb.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the portion of the coast from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita, Mexico.
Former Tropical Storm Priscilla intensified to a hurricane southwest of Mexico on Sunday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the southern side of the center of Priscilla’s circulation. An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Hurricane Priscilla. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Priscilla’s circulation. Storms near the center of Priscilla generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The strongest winds were occurring in the southeastern part of Hurricane Priscilla. Hurricane force winds extended out 40 miles in the southeastern quadrant of Priscilla’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of Hurricane Priscilla.
Hurricane Priscilla will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Priscilla will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over Mexico and the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Priscilla will intensify during the next 24 hours. Priscilla could strengthen to a major hurricane by Tuesday.
Hurricane Priscilla will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Priscilla slowly toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Priscilla will move south of Baja California on Tuesday.
Elsewhere over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, former Tropical Storm Octave also intensified to a hurricane on Sunday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Octave was located at latitude 16.0°N and longitude 123.3°W which put the center about 995 miles (1600 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Octave was moving toward the northeast at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.