Hurricane Rachel Reaches Category 3, Brings Heavy Rain Risk To Mexico
The storm is expected to weaken over the weekend after further strengthening Friday.
Hurricane Rachel strengthened into a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Thursday, with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 miles per hour (193 kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center. The storm was located about 390 km off the southern tip of Baja California and was moving west at around 4.8 kph. Forecasters expected Rachel to strengthen further over the following day before weakening over the weekend.
The hurricane was generating dangerous swells along Mexico’s Pacific coast, with the National Hurricane Center warning of potentially life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions. Mexican authorities remained on alert over forecasts of very heavy rain in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco. Officials also warned of possible landslides, rising river levels, overflowing rivers and flooding in low-lying areas.
The latest storm developed as parts of Mexico were still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Polo, whose remnants caused flooding and widespread damage in northern parts of the country earlier in the week. Hundreds of people remained displaced, while local authorities reported that at least 13 municipalities were still dealing with flooding on Thursday. In the border state of Sonora, residents described severe flooding that left homes damaged and families displaced.
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The US Embassy in Mexico had also warned Americans in Cabo San Lucas about beach and port closures and dangerous rip currents. Rachel's arrival comes during an unusually active Pacific hurricane season, with warmer ocean waters and atmospheric conditions contributing to increased storm activity. Tropical Storm Nolo was meanwhile continuing to move northwest away from Hawaii, with US forecasters monitoring its potential to strengthen into a hurricane.
The remnants of Polo were also affecting parts of the central United States, where Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa faced flood watches on Thursday. Lincoln, Nebraska, recorded 6.1 inches of rainfall on Wednesday, making it the city's wettest day on record, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Climate Office. In Omaha, the fire department reported responding to 80 water rescues within three hours, while some floodwaters reached depths of up to eight feet.
Other communities also faced disruptions from the storm system, with San Antonio under a flash-flood warning and thousands of Texas residents without power. In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly issued an emergency proclamation allowing state resources to support first responders in affected areas. Authorities across the affected regions continued to urge residents to monitor weather alerts and take precautions as heavy rain and flooding persisted.
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