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Hurricane Rachel strengthened to Category 2 off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Thursday, prompting warnings of heavy rain, strong winds and high waves in several western states, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Rachel was about 370 kilometres south of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest at 9 kph. Its maximum sustained winds had reached 165 kph.
Rain and wind warnings across Mexico
Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination said the storm was expected to intensify very heavy rainfall in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco. Heavy to very heavy rain was also forecast in central and southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula and other southeastern areas.
In the north, thunderstorms and possible hail were forecast in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Durango and Zacatecas. Strong winds could also bring a risk of tornadoes in northern Coahuila, the agency said.
Rachel follows Hurricane Polo
Rachel strengthened while Mexico was still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Polo, which made landfall in Baja California Sur earlier this week before moving across mainland Mexico. Polo brought heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to parts of the country, and its remnants contributed to heavy rainfall in the southwestern United States.
The National Hurricane Center said Rachel was expected to track along the Mexican coastline before turning west and moving farther into the Pacific. Although it was forecast to remain offshore, the storm could generate dangerous surf and heavy rain along parts of the Pacific coast.
Authorities urged people in affected areas to follow weather updates and take precautions against flooding, landslides and strong winds. Rachel was the 20th named storm and 10th hurricane of the Central and Eastern Pacific hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.
