Hurricane Trudy maintained its strength as it moved toward Mexico's western coast on Saturday, with forecasts calling for it to strengthen further before it begins to weaken on Sunday. It is the latest in a string of storms to hit Mexico's Pacific coast this year, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
A hurricane warning is in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco state. Early Saturday, Trudy's center was about 305 km south-southeast of Manzanillo with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h, the NHC said. The storm was moving at about 13 km/h and was expected to approach southwestern and west-central Mexico late Saturday before passing near the coast overnight into Sunday.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area overnight Saturday, while tropical storm conditions are expected to spread across the region during the day, the NHC said. Areas under a hurricane watch could also see hurricane conditions.
Trudy is forecast to bring 100 to 200 mm of rain, with isolated totals of about 380 mm, to parts of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco over the weekend, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and landslides, especially in steep terrain, according to the NHC.
Outer rain bands could produce 50 to 100 mm, with isolated totals of about 150 mm, in Guerrero and Nayarit, where localized flash flooding is possible, the center said.
The NHC also warned of possible coastal flooding from storm surge in onshore-flow areas, accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Trudy's swells have already reached parts of Mexico's southwestern coast and are expected to spread north toward the west-central coast over the weekend, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the NHC.
Mexico's Navy urged the maritime community and coastal residents to take great care because of high waves, heavy rain and the risk of rising rivers, flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Colima state said the risk is currently low, but the storm could bring significant rainfall that causes negative impacts because the ground is already saturated after successive storms hit the Pacific coast.
