Hurricane Paul Strengthens, Aims at Baja California Coast

Monday, October 23, 2006

MEXICO CITY —  Hurricane Paul strengthened to a Category 2 storm off Mexico's western coast on Monday and was threatening southern Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.

The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch Sunday for parts of the Baja California peninsula.

At 5 a.m. EDT, the storm was about 475 miles south of Baja California's southern tip, the hurricane center said.

It said the storm was expected to turn progressively toward the north and pick up its pace.

The storm was on course to come ashore in Baja California sometime Tuesday, then hit mainland Mexico near the state of Sinaloa.

Mexico was struck by two Pacific hurricanes last month. Hurricane John battered a remote section of Baja California, killing five people and destroying 160 homes, while Hurricane Lane hit the Sinaloan resort town of Mazatlan, causing relatively minor damage.

Pacific Storm name	name meaning
Aletta	small winged one
Bud	friend
Carlotta	manly
Daniel	God is my Judge
Emilia	gracious rival
Fabio	bean
Gilma	young gracious
Hector	Posessor
Ileana	bird rival
John	God is Gracious
Kristy	Anointed follower of Christ	Crystal
Lane	Narrow road
Miriam	bitter
Norman	North man Viking
Olivia	Olive Tree
Paul	Small , humble
Rosa	rose
Sergio	servant
Tara	high hill
Vicente	victorious conqueror
Willa	desiring protector
Xavier	bright new house
Yoland	violet
Zeke	strength of God