Kristy was located about 650 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California, and is expected to move further west over the next day or two, according to a hurricane center statement Wednesday. A gradual turn towards the west-northwest and northwest is expected on Friday and into the weekend.

The storm's maximum sustained wind speeds are around 125 mph with stronger gusts and “further steady to rapid strengthening is expected over the next day or so,” the NHC said. The gradual weakening is expected to begin on Friday.

The storm is expected to continue moving over open waters, but waves generated by Kristy will affect parts of the western coast of the Baja California peninsula later this week, the hurricane center said. These waves “will likely result in life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC said Wednesday.