In this April 29, 2014 photo, Joe Cione, who studies how storms interact with the ocean at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Hurricane Research Division in Miami, displays a drone he hopes to use this hurricane season for research. NOAA researchers plan to test five or six drones in the peak of hurricane season that will be transmitting data that could help forecasters understand what makes some storms fizzle while others strengthen into monsters. AP
MIAMI — Hurricane Cristina has strengthened to a major Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 120 mph (195 kph) early Thursday. The U.S.National Hurricane Center says weakening is expected Friday.
Cristina is centered about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and is moving west-northwest near 8 mph (13 kph).
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but forecasters say swells generated by the hurricane are affecting parts of Mexico’s southwest coast and could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
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