 Six hours after being declared a depression , the system quickly intensified into a tropical storm , at which time it was given the name Rick . Deep convection , an early indication of an eye forming , had begun wrapping around the center of the system . Early on October 16 , a ragged eyewall began to develop and several hours later , Rick intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph ( 121 km / h ; 65 kn ) . The rapid intensification was fueled by waters of 30 ° C ( 86 ° F ) , several degrees above average . By the evening of October 16 , microwave satellite imagery depicted a well @-@ defined eye ; however , this feature was not present on infrared images . Despite this , the NHC upgraded Rick to a Category 2 hurricane with winds now reaching 100 mph ( 161 km / h ; 87 kn ) . Early the next morning , the storm intensified into a major hurricane , a storm that ranks as a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir – Simpson Hurricane Scale . The eye was clearly visible on satellite images and deep , very cold convection surrounded it , signifying a powerful cyclone . Less than 40 minutes after this upgrade , the NHC issued a special advisory stating that Rick had further strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane . 
