Hurricane Karina has intensified rapidly into a major Category 3 storm in the Pacific, although forecasters say it poses no immediate threat to land.
The National Hurricane Center said Karina strengthened from a hurricane on Sunday within hours, reaching maximum sustained winds of 205km/h. It was positioned about 1,545km west-south-west of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and was expected to remain well offshore.
No coastal watches or warnings were in force, but the storm was forecast to generate dangerous swells along parts of south-western Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. The resulting surf and rip currents could create life-threatening conditions for swimmers and others near the coast. ([va.gov](https://www.va.gov/health/includes/NHC_Pacific_iframe.asp?utm_source=openai))
Hurricane-force winds extended up to about 35km from Karina’s centre, while tropical-storm-force winds reached as far as 370km, according to the hurricane centre.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Lowell was about 1,585km east-south-east of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 85km/h. It also posed no immediate threat to land.
