Hurricane Rick reaches 180 mph, 906 mb - historic eastern Pacific hurricane

Hurricane Rick continues aggressive growth, roaring to category five status as now the second strongest hurricane on record and the most powerful in the northeastern Pacific since 1997.

The latest on Hurricane Rick

Sustained Winds: 180 mph

Moving: WNW 14 mph

Estimated Central Pressure: 906 mb

This makes Rick the strongest hurricane since Hurricane Linda in 1997 that had winds near 185 mph.

Rick has clearly benefited from nearly perfect conditions during the day: minimal vertical wind shear (below 10 kt), sea surface temperatures near 86 F and little interaction with the Mexican coastline to the northeast.

Expectations are that Rick will remain in a favorable environment for further strengthening as the consensus model intensity has the storm maxing out with sustained winds near 185 mph early Sunday before a weakening phase begins by Monday.

A trough to the north approaching the US West Coast will weaken the ridge to the north of Hurricane Rick, beginning to set the stage for Rick's rather rapid turn to the north and eventually northeast across the southern tip of Baja California.

Rick is still expected to have sustained winds near 85-100 mph as the storm moves inland just to the north of Cabo San Lucas. For More Information: National Hurricane Center, Servicio Meteorologico Nacional

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Hurricane
• Rick
• 180
• mph

[SSArt98]

That is one intense eyewall,very developed!!