By 12:00 UTC on August 18, Genevieve reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 130 mph and a minimum central pressure of 950 millibars (28 inHg).

Genevieve began to weaken on the next day, possibly due to cooler waters caused by Hurricane Elida earlier that month.

[1] Later that day, the NHC's forecast was realized, as a trough of low pressure developed just offshore Central America, in association with the tropical wave.

[6] Genevieve continued to strengthen rapidly overnight as it developed an inner core, and the storm became a Category 1 hurricane on August 17, reaching 1-minute sustained winds of 75 mph (121 km/h).

[9] By 03:00 UTC the next day, Genevieve had intensified into a Category 2 hurricane, as strong outflow became evident and the eye began to grow, though it remained clouded.

[11] Three hours later, at 12:00 UTC on August 18, Genevieve intensified further into a Category 4 hurricane, and the storm reached its peak intensity, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 950 millibars (28 inHg).

[16] On August 20, Genevieve turned northwestward and passed very close to Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and the system weakened further into a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC.

[20] As Hurricane Genevieve rapidly intensified on August 17, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm watch for southern areas of Baja California Sur.

[26] Thunderstorms associated with the outer bands of Genevieve produced gusty winds and heavy rain in Oaxaca, with accumulations averaging 3.0 to 5.9 in (75 to 150 mm) and gusts reaching 43 to 50 mph (70 to 80 km/h).

[28] Heavy rainfall impacted much of Baja California Sur as Genevieve brushed the state; accumulations peaked at 11 in (280 mm) in Cabo San Lucas.

[34] A lifeguard drowned while attempting to save a teen who also died after ignoring warning flags prompted by rough surf produced by Genevieve, at a resort in Cabo San Lucas.

[35] On August 23, the Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil declared a state of emergency for the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos.