Hurricane Priscilla lashes western Mexico with heavy rain and strong winds
- Share via
- Hurricane Priscilla with 85 mph winds is battering western Mexico, bringing heavy rain and life-threatening surf to coastal areas.
- Up to 6 inches of rainfall threatens flash flooding in southwestern Mexico while Baja California Sur is under tropical storm watch
- The hurricane is expected to strengthen to Category 2 status as it moves northwest toward the Baja California peninsula.
MIAMI — Western Mexico was being lashed Monday by a hurricane bringing heavy rain, strong winds and rough surf to coastal areas and the Baja California peninsula.
A tropical storm watch was issued for Baja California Sur from Cabo San Lucas to Santa Fe, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.
Hurricane Priscilla was spinning just off the coast of Mexico, about 230 miles south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.
Parts of southwestern Mexico could get up to 6 inches of rain from Priscilla’s outer bands through Wednesday, bringing a flash flooding risk to Michoacán and Colima states, forecasters said.
Swells from Priscilla were reaching the coast of Mexico. Life-threatening surf and rip currents were likely, the weather service said.
The hurricane was expected to intensify to a Category 2 and approach major hurricane status over the next several days.
Nearby, Tropical Storm Octave was weakening about 885 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Its maximum sustained winds Monday morning were 65 mph.
There were no watches or warnings in effect with Octave, and no hazards affecting land. Forecasters expect the storm will continuing weakening and dissipate in a few days.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
Why is California’s wildfire strategy wrong for SoCal? After massive blazes, the state changed its approach, but it only works for the north. Listen to find out what officials are doing wrong — and the surprising strategy they’re turning to next.
In 1990, UCLA student Ronald Baker was murdered in a railway tunnel. While his occult interests fueled “Satanic Panic” rumors, police found his killers knew him well — one had even carried his casket.
LA’s smog wasn’t from factories. A scientist studying pineapples found the real cause: cars. But no one wanted to believe him. Hear the full story on “Smoglandia.” Listen now.
