Kenneth could become a major hurricane

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

************************* AT 100 PM PST (2100 UTC) THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KENNETH WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.0 NORTH, LONGITUDE 110.6 WEST.

KENNETH IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH (20 KM/H).

A TURN TOWARD THE WEST AND SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS AND THIS MOTION SHOULD THEN CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 85 MPH (140 KM/H) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

KENNETH IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.

ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST AND KENNETH COULD APPROACH MAJOR HURRICANE STATUS DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES (35 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES (220 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 982 MB (29.00 INCHES).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND: NONE.

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