In less than 48 hours, a tropical storm exploded into the first Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Pacific in two years.
Hurricane Genevieve reached the highest intensity level in the early morning hours of July 27, according to the National Hurricane Center, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 mph and even stronger gusts.
It reached hurricane status just after midnight ET on July 26.
Hurricane-force winds (74 mph and greater) extend 45 miles from its center, and tropical storm-force winds (39 mph–73 mph) stretch out 195 miles.
The eye of the storm was clocked 530 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, and appears to be heading further out to sea, moving northwest at 13 mph. …