Olaf Strengthens into a Hurricane in Eastern Pacific

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

October 18,2015; 9:06PM,EDT

 

 

As of early Sunday morning, Olaf was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane; making it the fifteenth named storm, and the eleventh hurricane of the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season.
Hurricane Olaf reportedly had sustained winds up to 75 mph with further strengthening expected throughout the day.
The most recent satellite imagery of Olaf spinning in the Eastern Pacific (NOAA/Satellite).
Although warm equatorial waters continue in Olaf's path throughout the weekend, and further strengthening is expected no watches or warning are in place at the moment.
Olaf is moving west at 9 miles per hour and is about 1725 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

Farther north of Hawaii in the Pacific, a separate low pressure system will be moving west to east, helping to direct Olaf away from the Islands and let it go northward before reaching the Central Pacific.
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The northward track for the start of the workweek will likely weaken Olaf as it is pulled into cooler waters.
AccuWeather Meteorologists will continue to monitor Olaf throughout the weekend for strengthening and changes in the expected track.