Celia churns into powerful Category 5 hurricane over open Pacific waters; no threat to land

Celia now powerful Cat 5 hurricane in open Pacific

MIAMI — Hurricane Celia has grown into a power Category 5 storm, but it’s swirling far out over the Pacific Ocean and doesn’t immediately threaten land.

The U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami says Celia was packing winds at 160 mph (260 kph) as it churned up seas Thursday night about 785 miles (1,260 km) off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Celia was moving farther out to sea to the west at about 13 mph (20 kph).

Meanwhile, Hurricane Darby was still swirling off Mexico’s coast and also didn’t immediately threaten land. The Category 1 storm was packing winds of about 90 mph (150 kph). It was moving to the west-northwest at about 8 mph (13 kph).

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Darby formed in the Pacific off Mexico’s southwest coast Thursday, while Hurricane Celia strengthened farther out at sea.

Neither hurricane posed an immediate threat to land.

Darby, a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph (130 kph), was located about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south-southwest of Puerto Escondido on Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

It was expected to strengthen over the next two days as it heads west-northwest, well away from land.

The hurricane center projected the storm could take a sudden eastward turn early next week, putting it on a path toward Mexico’s southern Pacific coast.

That prediction is tentative and depends on a tropical wave of pressure forming in the western Caribbean, said John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist at the center. Otherwise, Darby could continue on its northwestern path out to sea.

“It’s a low-confidence forecast at this point,” Cangialosi said. “It’s not going to have great impact on land over next few days so there is certainly time to watch it.”

Meanwhile, Celia became a Category 4 hurricane as it headed west across the open Pacific. Its maximum sustained winds increased to 135 mph (215 kph).

It was located about 765 miles (1,230 kilometerw) off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.