Hurricane Fabio Intensifies In The Pacific, Poses No Threat

Forecasters at The National Weather Service in Miami say Hurricane Fabio, the fifth severe tropical storm of the 2012 Pacific season, is maintaining its strength over the Pacific but is not expected to pose a threat to land.

Per the NWS’ 8:00am PDT advisory, Fabio, currently a Category 1 hurricane, had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (145 kph) and was about 540 miles (869 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California.

It is moving west-northwest at 10 mph (16 kph) and is expected to stay on that course for the next couple of days, the National Hurricane Center said.

The NHC added that further strengthening is possible over the next 24 hours but like the last two named storms, Daniel and Emilia, Fabio poses no threat to land.

As Hurricane Fabio grows in strength, Tropical Storm Emilia, farther out in the Pacific, is moving westward and is expected to continue weakening.

Once the strongest hurricane of the season so far with winds reaching category four strength of 140 mph, Emilia now has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and is 1485 miles (2390 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California.

It is moving west at 15 mph (24 kph), according to the NHC’s 8:00am advisory.

The 2012 Pacific hurricane season, which began on June 1, in the Central Pacific, is expected to produce 18 named storms including up to nine hurricanes by November 30th, the season’s end.

According to the NOAA, an average Eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 named storms, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes

Image: NHC.gov