Sandra expected to become major hurricane

Hurricane Sandra is expected to become a major hurricane within 24 hours, the National Hurricane Center reported Wednesday morning.

Located 560 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, Sandra was circulating 100 mph winds and tracking west-northwest ta 10 mph as of Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

Additional strengthening is forecast and Sandra could become a major hurricane within 24 hours. Forecasters expect the storm to peak as a Category 3 hurricane packing 120 winds on Thursday.

Thereafter, southwesterly shear is forecast to increase and rapidly weaken Sandra as the cyclone nears the west coast of Mexico.

“Although Sandra is forecast to weaken, it is too soon to know exactly how Sandra will affect portions of the southern Baja California peninsula or the west coast of mainland Mexico,” the forecasters said. “A watch may be required later today or tonight for portions of Mexico, and interests in those areas should monitor the progress of Sandra.”

In the Central Pacific, which is where Hawaii is located, tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Friday morning, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.

The Central Pacific and Eastern Pacific hurricane seasons continue through Nov. 30.

Get more hurricane-related content, including preparation tips, evacuation info and daily tropical weather updates, on our hurricane season page, sponsored by Clark Realty, at www.westhawaiitoday.com/hurricane-season-2015.