Hurricane Andres strengthens to Category 4 storm; dangerous surf and rip currents generated

MIAMI – Andres has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane far out to sea in the eastern Pacific, and is generating swells that are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip currents on parts of the west coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

The first named storm of the season had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph) Sunday night. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami is forecasting that the storm will slowly weaken over the next 48 hours. Other than strong surf, the storm posed no threats to land.

Andres is centred about 800 miles (1,290 kilometres) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, and is moving west at 6 mph (9 kph).