Hurricane Dolores Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane

July 14,2015

Highlights

• Dolores strengthened into a hurricane Monday afternoon and is expected to become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) in the next day or so.
• Hurricane Dolores is currently located about 330 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and continues to move west-northwest at 5 to 10 mph.
• Dolores is expected to continue to track west-northwest, pulling away from the southwest coast of Mexico. Dolores will pass well south of Los Cabos and the southern Baja peninsula.
• High surf, rip currents, and an occasional rainband can be expected along southwest Mexican coast and the southern Baja peninsula.

(MORE: Hurricane Season Outlook | Hurricane Central | Tropical Update)

The Latest Status, Forecast Path and Infrared Satellite Maps

Latest Status

Projected Path

Enhanced Satellite

While Hurricane Dolores is expected to remain well southwest and south of the Mexican Pacific coast, including the Baja peninsula, there still may be some peripheral impacts.
Outer rainbands may, at times, wrap into these areas, producing locally heavy rainfall.
High surf and dangerous rip currents are also risks. According to Mexico's National Meteorological Service (SMN), waves of 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) are expected along the coast of the states of Jalisco, Colima and Michoacan. High surf will also develop along the southern Baja peninsula coast Tuesday and continue through the week.
Dolores is expected to strengthen through late Wednesday or Thursday, until it tracks into an environment of more stable air and cooler water, after which it will weaken later this week well west of the Baja peninsula.
Farther west in the eastern Pacific, Enrique became a tropical storm Monday morning. The western Pacific is also active with Halola and Nangka currently in the basin.
MORE: Hurricane Strikes (PHOTOS)