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MIAMI - Monster Hurricane Rick weakened slightly late Sunday and was downgraded to a Category 4 storm as it barreled up Mexico's Pacific coast.
But US forecasters still called it "extremely dangerous."
"Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 145 miles (230 kilometres) per hour with higher gusts," the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.
"Rick is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale," the center added.
At 0300 GMT Monday, Rick was around 410 miles (660 kilometres) south of the resort town of Cabo San Lucas as it headed northwest at 13 miles (20 kilometers) per hour, parallel to Mexico's southern coast, the NHC said.
The US forecasters warned about "potentially dangerous surf conditions" caused by large ocean swells.
"Interests in southern Baja California and western mainland Mexico should monitor the progress of this extremely dangerous hurricane," the Miami-based center said.
Rick is on track to turn northward on Tuesday and is expected to gradually weaken over the next 24 to 48 hours, the NHC said.
- AFP /ls
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