Hurricane Karina reaches 80 mph, could strengthen into major storm
Why it matters: Karina is forecast to stay offshore, but swells could trigger dangerous surf and rip currents along southwest Mexico and Baja California.
Hurricane Karina formed Sunday over the eastern Pacific and was expected to strengthen further as it tracked away from land. The National Hurricane Center said Karina had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane, and forecast it could reach major-hurricane strength within about a day. On Sunday, the storm was about 820 miles southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and moving northwest at 15 mph. Forecasters said its path should carry it farther out over open water. Even so, swells from Karina were expected to create hazardous surf and rip current conditions along parts of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula.