
This NOAA satellite image taken Monday, October 15, 2012 at 11:00 AM EDT shows Hurricane Paul south of the Baja Peninsula. Paul is moving towards the north-northeast and has maximum winds of 90 mph. This hurricane is expected to approach the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in the next 48 hours. In the Pacific Northwest a frontal system is moving in off the Pacific with cloudiness and rain showers. (AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 6:45 p.m. EDT update Monday that Rafael's top sustained winds had risen to near 75 mph (120 kph), making it the ninth hurricane of the Atlantic season.
Rafael is centered about 560 miles (905 kilometers) south of Bermuda. It is moving north at 10 mph (17 kph) and forecast to pass near or to the east of Bermuda by late Tuesday.
Earlier, forecasters said Paul strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) and was 415 miles (670 kilometers) southwest of the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.







