MEXICO CITY – Tropical Storm Ileana made landfall on Saturday on the coast of the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, a day after dumping heavy rains on the tourist center of Los Cabos.
The storm formed Thursday off Mexico’s Pacific coast and was packing winds of 40 mph (65 kph) as it approached land Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It made landfall near the coastal city of Topolobampo and was located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) south-southeast of Los Mochis on Saturday night.
According to meteorologists, Ileana will advance along the coastal area of northern Sinaloa during the next few hours, and will then move over the Gulf of California, practically parallel to the coast on Sunday until it weakens to a tropical depression.
Storm warnings were issued Friday for parts of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
Juan Manuel Arce Ortega, of Civil Protection of Los Cabos, said that all the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos suspended classes due to the storm.
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 placed sandbags around their perimeters. Some people were still walking on the docks, covering themselves with umbrellas.
“The priority has to be safety, starting first with the workers. We always have to raise awareness of our colleagues who live in risk areas,” said Lyzzette Liceaga, a tour operator in Los Cabos.
Ileana was the only active tropical storm in the eastern Pacific basin on Friday, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. In the Atlantic, post-tropical cyclone Francine was bringing heavy rain to parts of the southern United States, while Tropical Storm Gordon formed Friday in the Atlantic Ocean and was forecast to remain over open waters for several days.
