Powerful and extremely dangerous Hurricane Rick

The 7th hurricane  (Hurricane Rick) of the eastern Pacific Hurricane Season intensifies into the 2nd strongest hurricane on record behind Hurricane Linda in 1997.

Sustained winds were near 180 mph with higher gusts up to 220 mph.

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Rick grew from a category 1 to a category 5 storm in only 42 hours.

The estimated minimum central pressure was 906 mb

(Hurricane Linda in 1997, the strongest hurricane in the eastern North Pacific had sustained winds near 185 mph with higher gusts, with a minimum central pressure of 902 mb)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

The eye of Hurricane Rick was located less than 555 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas Mexico.

Rick was moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue on Sunday.

A gradual turn to the northwest and north should begin on Monday.

Hurricane Rick will likely affect the Southern Baja California Peninsula by mid next week as a weaker hurricane as it encounters cooler waters and begins the weaken trend on Monday.

(National Hurricane Center Track)

The moisture associated with Hurricane Rick may affect the South and Southeast United States toward the end of next week.