Marie Intensifies, Expected to Reach Category 4 Status Soon
Tropical Storm Marie intensified rapidly overnight becoming a Category One Hurricane. As of 9 AM local time (MDT) Hurricane Marie had sustained winds of 85 mph with higher gusts.Marie is exexpected to become a Major Hurricane by Sunday with sustained winds in excess of 110 mph (Category 3).
Hurricane Marie is continuing to move to the west-northwest along a weather trough to the west of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) comments in a report this morning that the projected track "suggests more confidence than usual in the forecast track." That is good news for Cabo, because it indicates that a landfall on the southern Baja is very unlikely.
However, this storm is very large and potentially very dangerous. The NHC advises that surf swells may cause exteremely dangerous, life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Surf swells are already affecting the southwestern coast of Mexico and
are expected to begin affecting Cabo and the southern Baja area by
Sunday.
At present, hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the storm center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. The storm is very large and even though there will not be a direct landfall, safety precautuions should be taken-
Beyond the next 72 hours, Hurricane Marie is expected to cross over colder waters and begin to weaken.
Updates will be posted as they become available.