Fernanda continued to gain strength quickly Thursday, becoming a hurricane. The storm is expected to become a major hurricane by the weekend (category 3 or higher).
Hurricane Fernanda is moving across the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and is expected to continue on that course into early next week. The forecast is for Fernanda to become a category three or four in the next few days (winds 111-155 miles per hour) and then weaken back to a category one or two next week. Folks in Hawaii should keep an eye on this one.
Fernanda is expected to weaken as it approaches Hawaii but it should still be monitored by those living there. That’s because even if Fernanda weakens below hurricane strength, it could still produce dangerous swells at the beaches. Stronger rip currents and bigger waves will be possible, given this track, by late next week. We will keep you posted on the track of the storm and any potential impacts. For now, we have plenty of time to watch the transition of Fernanda.
For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier