Tracking the Tropics

Rick 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 hurricane

Posted: 10/17/09 at 7:36 am EDT

MIAMI (AP) -- The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Rick has rapidly developed into an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast with winds near 135 mph (185 kph).

The Miami center said Rick was centered about 255 miles (410 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and was moving west-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph) as of 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT) Saturday.

Acapulco's Civil Protection Department had earlier issued a warning that expected rains from outer bands of the storm could trigger landslides and flooding in the resort city.

Forecasters say Rick was moving parallel to southwestern Mexico's coast and more strengthening was expected with the possibility it could it could be near a Category 5 storm by Saturday night.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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