Tropical storm “Ileana” advances over the southern Gulf of California with heavy rains

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico on Saturday issued a tropical storm warning for all of its Pacific coast from Altata, Sinaloa, to Huatabampito, Sonora, and suspended warnings for Baja California Sur after storm Ileana lashed Los Cabos the previous day with heavy rains.

Ileana was moving north across the southern Gulf of California at 7 mph (11 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was centered about 70 miles (110 km) east of La Paz, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph), it added.

A tropical storm warning was in effect Friday for parts of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Juan Manuel Arce Ortega, of Civil Protection in Los Cabos, said that all municipalities in La Paz and Los Cabos are on red alert and residents are urged to avoid crossing rivers, streams and low-lying areas where they could be swept away by the water.

All schools in Los Cabos suspended classes on Friday due to the storm.

Oscar Cruces Rodriguez, deputy director of communications for federal civil protection, said in a statement that residents should avoid leaving their homes until the storm passes, and if they are in an area at risk of flooding they should seek temporary shelters.

Authorities have set up 20 temporary shelters in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to Civil Protection of Los Cabos.

At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet Alan Galvan said the rain came Thursday night and has been constant. “Right now there is not a lot of rain, the sea is a little rough,” he said.

“The guests are very calm, they have already come down for their coffee,” he added. “There are some airlines cancelling, but everything is fine so far.” Galván said they are waiting for more notices from the authorities.

Steady rains continued in Los Cabos on Friday afternoon. Several roads were flooded and some hotels had sandbags placed around their perimeters. Some people were still walking on the docks, covering themselves with umbrellas.