Hurricane Trudy is strengthening as it approaches Mexico's Pacific coast, with authorities warning of heavy rainfall and potential major hurricane status.
Hurricane Trudy has strengthened as it moves toward the Pacific coast of Mexico, according to authorities. The storm is expected to bring significant rainfall to southwestern and west-central Mexico this weekend.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Trudy was located about 230 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The center stated the hurricane was moving north-northwest at 7 mph and was expected to approach the coast this weekend.
However, Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) provided different data at 3 am local time on Thursday. Conagua reported the storm’s center was 480 kilometers (298 miles) southwest of Acapulco and 735 kilometers (457 miles) southeast of Manzanillo. According to Conagua, Trudy had maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour, with gusts reaching 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, and was moving northwest at 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour.
The National Hurricane Center said Trudy was on track to become a major hurricane on Friday. The center forecast rainfall of 4 to 8 inches through the weekend across Colima and Jalisco states. The Independent reported that isolated totals could reach around 12 inches in these southwestern Mexican states.
Conagua issued warnings for intense rainfall in northeastern and southwestern parts of Oaxaca, and very heavy rain in western, southern and eastern areas of Guerrero. The agency also predicted wind gusts of 50-70 kilometers (31-43 miles) per hour and waves reaching 2-3 meters (6.5-9.8 feet) along the coasts of these two states.
The National Hurricane Center noted that swells generated by Trudy are expected to affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico, likely causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Forecasters warned residents to prepare for life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas along steep terrain.
This storm follows recent weather events in the region. The Independent reported that earlier this month, Hurricane Rachel intensified into a Category 3 system off Mexico's Pacific coast. Parts of northern Mexico were still recovering from floods and destruction left by the remnants of Hurricane Polo when Rachel hit, with hundreds of people displaced and at least 13 municipalities flooded for days, according to local authorities cited by The Independent.
In other Pacific weather news, the National Weather Service reported that Tropical Storm Champi was centered about 750 miles east of Guam on Friday local time, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan are under typhoon and flood watches.
The conflicting data between the U.S. National Hurricane Center and Mexico’s National Water Commission highlights the importance of monitoring multiple official sources during rapidly evolving weather events. Residents in Colima, Jalisco, Guerrero, and Oaxaca face potential life-threatening conditions from heavy rainfall, flooding, and dangerous surf as the storm approaches.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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