Former Tropical Storm Fernanda intensified to a hurricane over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Sunday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Fernanda was located at latitude 15.5°N and longitude 116.5°W which put it about 670 miles (1075 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Fernanda was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 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 995 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Fernanda intensified rapidly to a hurricane on Sunday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Hurricane Fernanda’s circulation. A small eye was visible intermittently on satellite images. 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 revolved around the core of Hurricane Fernanda. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

The circulation around Hurricane Fernanda was small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of Fernanda’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Fernanda will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Fernanda will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Fernanda will intensify during the next 24 hours. Fernanda could intensify rapidly at times. Fernanda could strengthen to a major hurricane on Monday.

Hurricane Fernanda will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Fernanda toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Fernanda will move farther away from Baja California.