Mexico City: Hurricane Odile strengthened to a powerful category three storm on Sunday, dumping heavy rains and triggering huge waves as it swirled off Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
The narrow Baja California peninsula was hit especially hard, with mountainous areas in some western states expected to see up to 38 centimetres of rain from the storm, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
“These rains are likely to result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,” the Miami-based NHC warned.
The large storm had hurricane force winds extending outward up to 75 kilometres from the centre, and tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 295km.
Odile’s winds were blowing at 193km/h, the US National Hurricane Centre said in its 0600 GMT bulletin.
The storm was located about 280km west-southwest of Manzanillo, home to Mexico’s busiest port, as it moved north-northwest at 20km/h.
A hurricane warning was in effect for parts of Baja California Sur, from Cabo San Lazaro to La Paz. A hurricane watch was in effect for other parts of the peninsula.
The NHC warned of “additional strengthening” before Odile nears the southern portion of Baja California Sur, and passes over later on Sunday and Monday.
Swells likely to produce “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” were expected along southern portions of the Baja California peninsula and the southern Gulf of California on Sunday.
In the Atlantic, meanwhile, Tropical Storm Edouard was strengthening in the open seas and was expected to become a hurricane later on Sunday.
