Tropical Storm Ileana leaves flooded streets in Baja California Sur hours before making landfall. Credit: X/@metmex
Tropical storm Ileana affected Baja California Sur even though it has not yet made landfall. In Los Cabos, the heavy rains caused by the cyclone left roads and buildings flooded.
Videos circulating on social media show strong currents on roads and partially submerged cars. Other recordings show the rough seas.
However, the flooding recorded so far would only be the first effects of Ileana, as it is expected to make landfall in the town of San José del Cabo in the next few hours.
Ileana’s effects came before landfall Credit: X/@SkyAlertStorm
According to the 3:00 p.m. report from the National Meteorological Service (SMN), the tropical storm was currently located 55 kilometers east-southeast of Cabo San Lucas.
Given the proximity of the cyclone, the Early Warning System for Tropical Cyclones (SIAT-CT) updated the alert level in the state, leaving it as follows:
– Southern Baja California Sur on red alert (maximum danger): the recommendation is to stay at home or in a temporary shelter while authorities report that the danger has passed.
Ileana is expected to impact San José del Cabo Credit: X/@factsprime35
– Central Baja California Sur, southern Sonora and central, central-northern and northern Sinaloa on orange alert (high danger): the recommendation is to monitor the water level if you live near a river or lagoon.
– South-central Sinaloa, northern Baja California Sur and western Sonora on yellow alert (medium danger): the recommendation is to keep important documents in plastic bags and make an electronic copy of them.
– Southern Sinaloa on green alert (low danger): the recommendation is to clean roofs, drains, canals and manholes to prevent flooding.
Municipal authorities in Los Cabos are preparing for the arrival of Ileana with temporary shelters and technical equipment to deal with the emergency.
In a statement, the municipal government reported that the Los Cabos Potable Water team has a crane truck, four 4×4 units ready to support the electromechanical teams, three distributed backhoes and mobile equipment to take care of the wastewater.
The cyclone wreaked havoc in San José del Cabo before making landfall. Credit: X/@metmex
“The greatest impact from the rains is projected to occur in Cabo San Lucas, however, if we had to redouble our efforts in San José del Cabo and in the northern area, we are also prepared. The message to the population would be, specifically, to remain calm, the OOMSAPAS Los Cabos team is prepared,” said Ramón Rubio Apodaca, head of the agency.
Regarding temporary shelters, the municipal government reported that they are distributed as follows:
– San José del Cabo: Braulio Maldonado secondary school, Paula Olachea Montejano, Jacinto Rochin Pinto, Valentin Gomez Farias and Cecyt 04 primary schools.
– Cabo San Lucas: Lazaro Cardenas, Juana Ines de la Cruz, Efrain Ceseña, and Heroes of 1847 elementary schools, the Carmen Fisher Cota Secondary School and CBTIS.
– Santiago: 15 de Mayo school, Justo Sierra kindergarten, and the Constituyentes de Querétaro campus in Buena Vista.
– Miraflores: Alfredo Green Gonzalez secondary school
– La Ribera: General Jose Agustin secondary school
In addition, as a preventive measure, a dry law was declared until further notice, which means that the purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages in the municipality is prohibited.
