Hurricane Vance Strengthens Off Mexico's Pacific Coast
The storm is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it approaches Mexico.
Hurricane Vance strengthened off the coast of Mexico on Friday and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major Category 3 storm as it nears the country's Pacific coast. The National Hurricane Center reported that Vance had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and was churning about 440 miles (710 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco.
The hurricane is moving north-northwest at about 6 mph (9 kph) and is projected to maintain this track through the weekend, with an approach to the Puerto Vallarta area expected by Monday. Vance's outer bands are already bringing gale-force winds and rough seas to Mexico's Gulf of Tehuantepec.
This hurricane season in the Pacific has been unusually active. El Niño conditions, exacerbated by global warming, have contributed to anomalous weather patterns. This has included severe flooding and tornadoes in the southwestern United States and a prolonged drought in Central America's Dry Corridor.
Vance is on track to become the seventh consecutive major hurricane in the Pacific this year, following Nolo, Odalys, Polo, Rachel, Simon, and Trudy. The World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee does not assign names beginning with Q, U, X, Y, or Z.