Hurricane Genevieve strengthens to 'beast' Category 4 storm off Mexico, will brush Baja California

The third hurricane this season in the Eastern Pacific rapidly strengthened off Mexico's western coast on Tuesday, becoming the season's second major storm as it is forecast to swipe Baja California.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said that Hurricane Genevieve now has maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, and is located about 360 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California.

In its 8 a.m. EDT update, the NHC said that Genevieve "rapidly intensified" to a Category 4 hurricane less than 24 hours after reaching hurricane-strength.

"Additional rapid strengthening is possible during the next 12 to 24 hours," the NHC stated.

Eric Blake, a hurricane specialist at the NHC, said the storm is an "impressive hurricane" on satellite.

"Quite a beast but very well anticipated by forecasts," he tweeted.

According to forecasters, Genevieve is moving toward the northwest, which is expected to continue as the storm slows down by early Thursday.

"On the forecast track, the center of Genevieve is expected to move parallel to but well offshore the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next day or so," the NHC said. "The center of the hurricane is forecast to move to the southwest of the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula on Wednesday night and Thursday."

While the hurricane is now a Category 4 storm packing winds of 130 mph, forecasters say that Genevieve won't maintain that in the days ahead. Forecasters said that "rapid weakening" is expected by late Wednesday and should continue through the end of the week.

The storm isn't forecast to make landfall, but is still expected to bring impacts to Mexico's coast.

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