Hurricane Priscilla has intensified into a Category 2 storm off the west coast of Mexico and is expected to keep getting stronger, possibly into a Category 3 by day’s end, which would make it a major hurricane with minimum sustained winds of 111 mph, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center says. Category 2 hurricanes have sustained winds of at least 96 mph.
Priscilla’s outer bands could bring heavy rains and gusty winds to parts of Baja California Sur later today and tomorrow, the center says, adding that a tropical storm watch is up for Baja California Sur from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico.
Hurricane Priscilla’s track and forecast
On the forecast track, Priscilla’s center “is expected to move parallel to, but offshore of, the coast of west-central Mexico and Baja California Sur during the next couple of days,” the hurricane center observed. “… Additional strengthening is expected, and Priscilla could be at or near major hurricane strength later today. Weakening is forecast to begin on Wednesday and continue through the rest of the week.”
As of the NHC’s 4 a.m. EDT update Tuesday, the storm was some located about 255 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, near the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, and about 245 miles south of Baja California’s southern tip.
NOAA / National Hurricane Center 
It was traveling northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.
From today into tomorrow, the hurricane center said, one-to-two inches of rain are forecast in southern Baja California Sur, with local totals up to 4 inches. “This rainfall could bring a risk of flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain,” the center cautioned.
NOAA / National Hurricane Center 
In addition, “Swells generated by Priscilla are affecting portions of the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico, as well as portions of the coast of the southern Baja California peninsula. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the center pointed out.
Possible U.S. impact
The center says “moisture from Priscilla should bring heavy rainfall potential over the Southwest U.S. late this week into this weekend.”
