As of Monday evening, Hurricane Genevieve, a powerful force in the Pacific Ocean, was making waves far from any coast, even as Tropical Storm Fausto lost strength but sent big swells crashing onto Hawaiian shores.
Early on Monday, Genevieve had swelled to a Category 5 hurricane, marking it as the first of such intensity in the East Pacific in two years, according to reports from the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasts suggested that Genevieve would steer clear of land, charting a path parallel to the Mexican coastline.
Packing a punch with sustained winds clocking in at 145 mph, Genevieve was monitored closely by the hurricane experts based in Miami.
The eye of Genevieve was positioned roughly 505 miles southwest of the Baja California peninsula’s southern extremity, advancing northwestward at a speed of 12 mph.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but the hurricane center said that swells from the storm — likely causing “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” — were affecting parts of Mexico’s southwestern coast and the Baja California peninsula.
Genevieve was expected to fluctuate in intensity before weakening later in the week.
Farther northwest in the Pacific, Hurricane Fausto weakened to a tropical storm Monday evening as it continued on a path in the general direction of the Hawaiian Islands.
Forecasters said Fausto is expected to pass north of Hawaii, but residents should still monitor the progress of the storm for impacts
Large surf and strong currents were increasing on east-facing shores along Hawaii’s islands, the hurricane center said.
Fausto had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
It was centered about 415 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and traveling west-northwest at 16 mph.