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Andres weakens to tropical storm, Blanca gains strength

NASA/NOAA GOES PROJECT
NOAA's GOES-West satellite saw Blanca on June 3 at 1200 UTC after it strengthened into a hurricane today. Blanca had a tiny 'pinhole" eye. Credits: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

Andres weakened to a tropical storm in the eastern Pacific while Hurricane Blanca rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane.

Andres’ maximum sustained winds early Wednesday decreased to near 60 mph with continued weakening expected. The storm is centered about 1,015 miles  west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

Andres was expected to become a tropical depression by Thursday and be swept up and absorbed by Hurricane Blanca.

Waves generated by Andres when it was a hurricane should begin arriving in Hawaii on Wednesday and build into Friday, bringing advisory-level surf to east shores.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Blanca is gaining strength and is a major category 4 stor with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

Blanca is centered about 420 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and was nearly stationary, but expected to move north-northwest on Thursday.

The storm could make landfall in Baja California on Sunday.

Swells from Blanca will begin affecting parts of Mexico’s southwestern coast during the next few days.

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