Hurricane Jimena Could Make Landfall in Baja California as a Category 5 Hurricane

September 1, 2009, Posted by admin at 3:50 pm |

Hurricane Jimena
Photo: NASA

By Dan Shapley

Hurricane Jimena, a powerful Category 4 hurricane, is being called “extremely dangerous” as it nears landfall on the southern tip of Baja California late today or early Wednesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. The massive hurricane Jimena has sustained wind speeds of 155 mph — 7% stronger than just a day ago, putting it on the cusp of Category 5 status.

The hurricane is prompting frantic preparations on Baja California, and on the Mexican mainland as well. While the storm is expected to have its strength sapped while crossing the peninsula, it is forecast to retain tropical storm-strength as it makes a second landfall on mainland Mexico, late Friday or early Saturday.

Hurricane Jimena is not the only storm being watched in North American waters.

Hours after Hurricane Jimena formed as a tropical storm, Tropical Storm Kevin formed behind it, the 11th named storm of the season in the eastern Pacific. Tropical Storm Kevin, however, has since dissipated without menacing land.

In the Atlantic, the makings of Tropical Storm Erika are brewing, as an area of low pressure shows a better-than-50% chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm in the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center is warning the Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to be on alert.