Hurricane Genevieve intensified into the first Category 5 storm in the Eastern Pacific basin since Hurricane Kristy in 2024 early Monday. It is also the Northern Hemisphere's first major hurricane of the 2026 season, encompassing both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins.
The storm is currently tracking west-northwest across open waters with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Despite its intensity, Genevieve is expected to remain at sea and pose no direct threat to land.
However, the hurricane is generating swells that are causing life-threatening rip currents along parts of southern Baja California and the southwestern coast of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is moving into an environment conducive to further development, with decreasing wind shear and rising ocean temperatures providing ample fuel. The waters are warm not only at the surface but also at deeper levels.
Genevieve was named Saturday night and rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 storm by Sunday evening. The average date for the first major hurricane in the eastern Pacific is typically July 15.
The hurricane is forecast to move over cooler waters by the middle of the week, which will initiate a weakening process. By the weekend, Genevieve is expected to either dissipate entirely or become a weak system.