Hurricane Andres strengthens to category 4 off Mexican coast
Storm Andres, the first of this year’s Pacific season, has strengthened to a Category Three hurricane with wind speeds inside it surpassing 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) reports, according to Sputnik.
The hurricane had sustained winds of 220 kilometers (137 miles) per hour on Sunday with wind gusts reaching a speed of 265 kilometers (140 miles) per hour, SMN said.
The Miami-based US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday that the Andres hurricane was moving west at a speed of 9 kilometers (6 miles) per hour.
"Swells generated by Andres are affecting portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," NHC said in its public advisory statement.
The Andres hurricane is expected to start weakening on Monday, the statement added.
Mexico’s meteorologists earlier warned that Andres could trigger heavy rains in the states of Michoacan, Jalisco and Colima.
The 2015 Pacific hurricane season started on May 15 and will run until the end of November.
During last year’s season, Category Four Hurricane Odile hit the Baja California peninsula, leading to the death of 15 people.