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October 23, 2024

Hurricane Kristy forecast to reach Category 5 strength as storm rapidly intensifies in Eastern Pacific

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Hurricane Kristy has rapidly intensified into a major hurricane, and the storm is now forecast to reach Category 5 strength as it pulls farther away from the coast of Mexico in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.The remnants of former Tropical Storm Nadine reorganized Monday into Kristy in the Eastern Pacific. Since this was not Nadine’s original circulation, the NHC assigned it the next name on that basin’s naming list.Nadine made landfall near Belize City, Belize, on Saturday afternoon, packing sustained winds of 60 mph. After moving inland over Central America and Mexico, the storm weakened and dissipated Sunday before its remnants emerged off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHERKristy is forecast to move west to northwestward over the next several days, bringing it farther away from the coast of Mexico.WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE?As of Wednesday evening, Hurricane Kristy grew again to Category 4 strength with winds of 155 mph, and the NHC said it will likely continue to strengthen and reach Category 5 strength by Thursday.However, the FOX Forecast Center said the storm is not expected to impact any land areas as it remains over the open waters of the Eastern Pacific.