strengthened today as it moved across open water in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Eugene, now a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph, was about 445 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico and about 635 miles south of the southern tip of Baja, California, moving west-northwest at 15 mph, the center said in its 5 a.m. EST press release.
Although no coastal watches or warnings have been issued have been issued for Eugene, forecasts suggest that the hurricane will make its way into the SoCal window sometimes on Wednesday morning. By that time it would grow to a category 2 hurricane and would maintain a west northwest heading.
The hurricane will then gradually weaken in the 24-36 hours following its entry in to the SoCal swell window.
While Eugene is strengthening in the Pacific ocean, another storm has formed over the Caribbean Sea, forcing several islands in its path – including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – to issues tropical storm watches or warnings.
According to the NHC, Tropical Storm Emily is heading in a westerly direction with 65 kilometer-per-hour winds and that it is expected to gradually strengthen in the next 48 hours.
Forecasters expect the storm to move across the northeastern Caribbean and approach the Haiti and the Dominican Republic shared island of Hispaniola Tuesday night and Wednesday.
