Pacific storm becomes hurricane
Pastor Dale Morgan
Pacific storm becomes hurricane*
* Story Highlights
* Flossie strengthens into hurricane in Pacific, National Hurricane
Center says
* Storm hundreds of miles off Mexico's Pacific coast
* Flossie expected to weaken by the time it nears Hawaii
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- A storm swirling hundreds of miles off
Mexico's Pacific coast strengthened into a hurricane Friday, the
National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said.
Flossie's winds increased to 75 mph and were expected to strengthen over
the next 24 hours, the center said.
On Friday morning, the hurricane was 1,300 miles southeast of Hawaii and
moving west at 14 mph, said Richard Knabb, a hurricane specialist with
the center.
Flossie could remain a hurricane for the next two days but is expected
to weaken by the time it nears Hawaii, in about four days, Knabb said.
Flossie is forecast to move south of the islands, possibly as a tropical
storm.
"But even a system passing to the south can bring significant rain" and
surf swells, he said, adding that Hawaiian residents should be on alert.