Hurricane Rachel Intensifies to Category 3 as Mexico and U.S. Southwest Face Ongoing Flooding
Hurricane Rachel strengthens to Category 3 off Mexico's coast as floods from Hurricane Polo continue to impact northern regions.
POLICY WIRE — Mexico City, Mexico — Hurricane Rachel has been classified as a Category 3 storm along Mexico’s Pacific coast, as the region continues to deal with the aftermath of previous flooding from Hurricane Polo.
The storm, currently 245 miles off Baja California’s southern tip, is moving westward at 3 mph and is expected to intensify over the next day before gradually weakening later in the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Maximum sustained winds reached 120 mph on Thursday, with warnings issued about dangerous surf and rip currents along the Mexican coastline. Authorities have remained on high alert due to heavy rainfall forecasts across Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Jalisco, which could lead to landslides, river overflows, and widespread flooding.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned American citizens in Cabos San Lucas of beach and port closures, as well as life-threatening rip currents. The Pacific hurricane season has seen an unusual level of activity, linked to El Niño, which has caused extreme weather patterns, including droughts and floods across the region.
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Tropical Storm Nolo was also moving northwest away from Hawaii, with potential for strengthening into a hurricane by the weekend. Meanwhile, parts of northern Mexico are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Polo, with hundreds displaced and 13 municipalities still flooded as of Thursday night.
Lucía Vegas, a resident of Bacabachi in Sonora, described how her family survived a severe flood thanks to their dog, which woke them during the night as waters rose rapidly. “Right now, we have been left with nothing,” she said through tears, describing the devastation in her community.
In the U.S., Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa remain under flood watches, with record-breaking rainfall in some areas. Lincoln, Nebraska, recorded its wettest day ever with 6.1 inches of rain, while Omaha saw 8 feet of floodwater in some areas. Over 19,000 residents in Texas were without power, and social media videos showed floodwaters creating waves on Interstate 35 in Denton.
Chicago officials urged residents to conserve water to prevent sewage backups, while Kansas Governor Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency to support first responders in affected areas. As the region grapples with ongoing weather challenges, emergency response efforts continue across both Mexico and the U.S. Southwest.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)