Tropical Storm Ileana made landfall on the coast of the Mexican state of Sinaloa on Saturday, following its impact on the resort-heavy Los Cabos a day prior.
The storm, which formed on Thursday off Mexico's Pacific coast, was delivering winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) as it moved ashore near Topolobampo. By late Saturday, Ileana was positioned approximately 15 miles (25 km) south-southeast of Los Mochis.
Forecasters predict that Ileana will remain over northern Sinaloa in the coming hours before moving over the Gulf of California on Sunday, gradually weakening into a tropical depression.
Ahead of the storm, warnings were issued for parts of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In response, authorities in La Paz and Los Cabos suspended school classes and opened 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
At Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet worker Alan Galvan reported consistent rain since Thursday night, with choppy waves affecting the area. “The rain isn't very strong right now, but the waves are choppy,” Galvan said. “The guests are very calm and already came down for coffee. There are some flights canceled, but everything is okay at the moment.”
Rain persisted through Los Cabos on Friday afternoon, leading to flooded roads and resorts fortifying their perimeters with sandbags. Residents were seen navigating boat docks with umbrellas despite the conditions. “The priority has to be safety, starting with the workers. We always have to check on our colleagues who live in risk areas,” said Lyzzette Liceaga, a tour operator in Los Cabos.
Tropical Storm Ileana was the sole active storm in the National Weather Service's Eastern Pacific basin on Friday. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic basin, post-tropical cyclone Francine brought heavy rain to parts of the southern United States, and Tropical Storm Gordon formed, expected to stay over open water for several days.
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Tropical Storm Ileana makes landfall on Mexico's Sinaloa coast
cgtn.com
