Category 3 Hurricane “Juliette” bearing down on Clarion Island, Mexico

Hurricane "Juliette," the 10^th named storm and 3^rd major hurricane of the 2019 Pacific hurricane season, is bearing down on Clarion Island, Mexico. The storm formed September 1 while all eyes were set on Hurricane "Dorian" and quickly intensified into a major hurricane.

At 09:00 UTC on September 3, the center of Juliette was located 40 km (25 miles) SE of Clarion Island, Mexico and 710 km (440 miles) SW of the southern tip of Baja California. Its maximum sustained winds were 195 km/h (120 mph).

The system was moving NW at 15 km/h (9 mph) with minimum central pressure of 963 hPa.

This general motion is expected to continue through Friday, September 6.

Hurricane "Juliette" at 13:20 UTC on September 3, 2019. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East

Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Juliette could become a category 4 hurricane later today or early Wednesday (MDT).

Thereafter, cold upwelling is expected to begin, which will induce a slow weakening trend on Wednesday. The weakening rate is expected to be tempered by low vertical shear conditions and a very favorable upper-level outflow regime.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 km (25 miles) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 km (125 miles).

A Mexican Navy automated weather station located on Clarion Island recently reported a sustained wind of 91 km/h (57 mph) and a gust to 118 km/h (74 mph).

Featured image: ​Hurricane "Juliette" at 13:20 UTC on September 3, 2019. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East