Hurricane Trudy brings heavy rain and strong winds to Mexico’s Pacific coast

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Hurricane Trudy brought heavy rain and strong winds to portions of Mexico ’s southwestern and west-central Pacific coast early Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. A hurricane warning remained in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco . The latest NHC data showed the Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph) about 135 miles (215 kilometers) south of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco state and 115 miles (185 kilometers) west-southwest of Manzanillo, moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Meanwhile, Typhoon Champi strengthened into a Category 4 super typhoon as it moved past Guam . Trudy’s center was expected to remain near the Mexican coast through Sunday evening before moving south of the Baja California Peninsula. Slight strengthening was possible Sunday morning, but weakening was expected late in the day. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Las Islas Marias. A warning for the coast east of Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas had been discontinued. The Mexican navy urged mariners and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution because of high waves, heavy rain and the risk of rising rivers, flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas. Colima authorities said the risks remained low, but warned that heavy rainfall could cause damage because the ground was already saturated by successive storms along the Pacific coast. Trudy was expected to bring 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters) of rain through the weekend, with isolated totals of around 12 inches (30 centimeters) along and near the coast in Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. The hurricane center warned of potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Also in the Pacific, Champi was moving away from Guam on Sunday after passing close to the island’s southern tip, with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph). At 1 p.m. Sunday local time it was 130 miles (210 kilometers) west of Guam, moving west at 16 mph (26 kph), according to the U.S. National Weather Service. The storm could strengthen into a Category 5 super typhoon early Monday. Guam and Rota remained under a typhoon warning, while the tropical storm warning and typhoon watch for Tinian and Saipan were canceled. The governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands both requested emergency disaster declarations on Friday. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Guam authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts. FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available for the territory of Guam to supplement local response efforts following Typhoon Champi. Airports, harbors and some health facilities in the territories were closed. Resources were unlikely to reach the islands for three to five days, according to Saturday updates from FEMA. The territories are still recovering from super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, which struck in April and July, respectively.