Hurricane Karina Rapidly Intensifies to Category 3 in Pacific

Hurricane Karina rapidly intensified into a major Category 3 storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, August 30, 2026, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, which began the day as a Category 1 hurricane, experienced explosive strengthening over open waters, with its maximum sustained winds jumping from 80 mph to 125 mph. Its central pressure dropped to 955 millibars, marking its transition into a dangerous major hurricane. As of Sunday evening, Karina was located approximately 960 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.