Major Hurricane Genevieve roars in the Pacific as Fausto weakens to a tropical storm near Hawaii

Major Hurricane Genevieve was roaring in the Pacific Ocean far from land Monday evening at the same time that the weakening Tropical Storm Fausto was bringing large surf to Hawaii.

Genevieve was briefly a Category 5 hurricane early Monday, the first in the East Pacific region in two years, the National Hurricane Center said.

It was expected to stay far out to sea on a course roughly parallel with the Mexico coast.

Genevieve had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, according to the Miami-based hurricane center.

Genevieve’s center was located about 505 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula and was headed northwest at 12 mph.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but the hurricane center said that swells from the storm — likely causing “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” — were affecting parts of Mexico’s southwestern coast and the Baja California peninsula.

Genevieve was expected to fluctuate in intensity before weakening later in the week.

Farther northwest in the Pacific, Hurricane Fausto weakened to a tropical storm Monday evening as it continued on a path in the general direction of the Hawaiian Islands.

Forecasters said Fausto is expected to pass north of Hawaii, but residents should still monitor the progress of the storm for impacts

Large surf and strong currents were increasing on east-facing shores along Hawaii’s islands, the hurricane center said.

Fausto had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

It was centered about 415 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and traveling west-northwest at 16 mph.