Hurricane Gilma Intensifies in Pacific

Hurricane Gilma strengthened early Thursday morning as it moved through the Pacific, with the National Weather Center expecting it to continue west-northwest over the next several days.

At 5 a.m. EDT, Gilma was a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Further strengthening is possible throughout the day.

Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the storm's center, and tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 125 miles. No coastal watches or warnings have been issued, and the storm poses no immediate hazards to land.

The National Hurricane Center will provide another update at 11 a.m. EDT.

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Hurricane Tracker

2024 Hurricane Season Activity

Last week, Hurricane Ernesto hit Bermuda, bringing life-threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast.

In July, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, causing "catastrophic damage" and 20 deaths in the Caribbean. It also resulted in a preliminary death toll of 25 as it moved through Texas, Louisiana, and Vermont, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

"Atmospheric and oceanic conditions have set the stage for an extremely active hurricane season that could rank among the busiest on record," stated NOAA's website.

For 2024, NOAA predicts 17 to 24 named storms, with 8 to 13 becoming hurricanes, and 4 to 7 potentially becoming major hurricanes with winds greater than 111 mph.

Typically, a hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, sees around 14 named storms, with 7 becoming hurricanes and 3 reaching major hurricane status.

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Mike Snider, Eduardo Cuevas

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY, covering topics from local businesses and government in Miami to tech and pop culture. Connect with her on LinkedIn, and follow her on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz