Hurricane Dolores worsens off Mexico's coast
MIAMI -- Hurricane Dolores has rapidly strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm in the Pacific off Mexico's coast.
The storm's maximum sustained winds early Wednesday are near 130 mph with some additional strengthening forecast during the next day.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the hurricane will begin weakening Thursday.
Dolores is centered about 310 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and is moving west-northwest.
Swells generated by the hurricane are affecting parts of Mexico's southwestern coast along with the southern coast of the Baja California peninsula. The swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
On Tuesday the U.S. National Hurricane Center predicted that Dolores was expected to become a major hurricane Wednesday.
Another system, Tropical Storm Enrique, strengthened a little but stayed far out in the Pacific, about 1,365 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California. Enrique had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west-northwest near 9 mph.
In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Claudette was expected to weaken further overnight and dissipate Wednesday. Claudette's maximum sustained winds were 45 mph. Claudette was centered about 240 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and moving northeast near 21 mph.