Hurricane Hilary ups to Category 4

2011-09-23 08:04

Mexico City - Hilary, a small but powerful storm, strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane late on Thursday as its core continued to move parallel to the southwest Pacific coast of Mexico.

The storm was 140km southwest of the popular resort of Acapulco, packing maximum sustained winds of 215km/h, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said.

"Some additional strengthening is possible on Friday. There will be some fluctuations in intensity during the next day or so," forecasters added.

Hilary, now on the fourth rung of a five-step severity scale, is the seventh hurricane of the Pacific season. None has caused major damage so far.

A tropical storm warning was in place for the Mexican coast from Lagunas de Chacahua in the state of Oaxaca westward to Punta San Telmo in Michoacan.

The hurricane centre said Hilary was expected to produce rainfall of 7.6cm - 12.7cm across parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca states in southern Mexico, with up to 25cm possible in some areas. The storm was likely to bring life-threatening surf to Mexican coasts.

Mexico has no oil production in the Pacific and storm conditions are unlikely to affect a refinery at Salina Cruz in Oaxaca.

- Reuters