Tropical Storm Lorena is bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and hazardous ocean conditions to Baja California and parts of Mexico on Thursday, with moisture from the storm expected to impact the U.S. Southwest through Saturday.
Why It Matters
As of the most recent update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Lorena had maximum sustained wind speeds of 60 miles per hour. NHC meteorologists warned that heavy rain would bring the threat of life-threatening floods and mudslides to Mexico.
It is the 12th named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season. The Eastern Pacific season begins May 15, two weeks earlier than the Central Pacific and Atlantic hurricane seasons. Each season runs through November 30.
What To Know
Animated weather footage from windy.com shows the impacts of Tropical Storm Lorena. Rain and thunderstorms are currently moving through Baja California, even though Lorena remains offshore.
More rain is expected to fall over the next several days, with the NHC forecasting as much as 15 inches of rain for Baja California Sur, far southeast Baja California and southwestern Sonora into Friday.
“This will bring the risk of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of higher terrain,” the NHC said.
As much as 6 inches of rain is expected for the rest of Sonora and northern Sinaloa. In the U.S., up to 3 inches of rain is expected across the Southwest, with some areas seeing up to 5 inches. The rain is expected to impact parts of Arizona and New Mexico, potentially causing isolated flash flooding.
A flood watch is currently in effect for Southern Arizona and Southeastern California.
The NHC also warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Waves up to 12 feet were reported offshore of Baja California.
What People Are Saying
National Weather Service meteorologist Kiera Malarkey, who works at the NWS office in Tucson, Arizona, told Newsweek: “For our area down here in Southern Arizona, we are correlating this influx of moisture as an indirect cause of the [tropical storm]. The [tropical storm’s] general push northwards helped push more moisture into our area.”
NHC in a public advisory about Tropical Storm Lorena: “A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…West Coast of Baja California Sur from Puerto Cortés to Punta Eugenia. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Interests elsewhere on the Baja California peninsula and in northwestern Mexico should monitor the progress of Lorena.”
What Happens Next
NHC meteorologists predict that Lorena will move parallel to Baja California through Thursday night before moving closer to the coast on Friday. The storm is expected to weaken into a post-tropical depression by Friday night.
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