Overview
Meteorologists at the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) have confirmed that Hurricane Flossie has strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of Mexico. The system, which had been under close observation for several days, reached sustained winds of around 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour) late Tuesday.
Although the storm’s center remains far offshore, its outer rainbands are already influencing parts of coastal Mexico, including Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco, with heavy rainfall and higher-than-usual surf.
Experts emphasize that while Flossie currently poses no direct threat of landfall, its proximity and gradual movement could still bring indirect effects, including coastal flooding, elevated tides, and dangerous marine conditions.
Current Location and Movement
According to the NHC’s most recent update, the center of Hurricane Flossie is situated approximately 505 kilometers (315 miles) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, a popular resort destination located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
The hurricane is tracking toward the west-northwest at roughly 17 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour), a movement expected to continue over the next 24 to 36 hours.
Meteorologists anticipate that the storm will maintain its current strength through Wednesday, possibly intensifying slightly before gradually weakening by the end of the week. Cooler ocean temperatures and increasing wind shear are expected to reduce its intensity as it travels further into the open Pacific.