Hurricane Rick is still a major hurricane over the Eastern Pacific, although winds weakened dramatically Sunday night, lowering to 125 mph by early Monday morning. It is now a Category 3 storm.
Sunday, the hurricane had sustained wind of 180 mph, a feat quite impressive for this particular hurricane belt. Normally, Category 5 hurricanes do not develop in this region, especially not ones with wind gusts of up to 190 mph.
The storm is moving toward the west-northwest now but will make a gradual turn to the north today into Tuesday. Wednesday, the storm’s fury will hit lower Baja, Mexico. Though the storm will still pack a wallop, it will be considerably less intense when it strikes land (probably a weak Category 2 or Category 1 at landfall). Cooler water in the storm’s path will see to that.
Damaging wind gusts of 100 mph could knock down trees and cause serious damage to houses on the southern tip of Baja California. Flooding rain of 5 inches with locally higher amounts could also impact the southern Baja into a wider part of western Mexico.
Tourists planning a leisurely fall vacation in the Cabo San Lucas area should also be on alert, and communicate with their resort destinations to see what they may need to do to reschedule their arrival.
Hurricane Rick’s path is reminiscent of Hurricane Jimena’s unwanted arrival in the same area in late August. Major airlines worked with passengers at that time to reschedule their flights with no penalty, and, at least some of the airlines have already issued travel notices for the area.
Bottom line: Residents and visitors in the state of Baja California Sur are cautioned to closely monitor the progress of this dangerous storm within the next two to three days. Since forecasters are predicting a weakening of the storm once it reaches cooler waters, along with the possibility Hurricane Rick could weaken to Category 2 by the time it makes landfall in the Cabo San Lucas region.
Related posts:
- Mexico tries to evacuate thousands ahead of Jimena Jimena became the fifth hurricane to form in the East...
b.i.n. = Baja Infortheque Network.