Tropical storm Olaf swept across Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the major beach resorts of Los Cabos before losing its hurricane force.
Strom Olaf made landfall near the city of San Jose del Cabo late Thursday as a Category Two hurricane packing maximum winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
It weakened over land and lost its hurricane status as winds dropped to 70 mph, it reported.
A public hospital in Los Cabos, one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations, was evacuated due to the risk of flooding, authorities said.
But there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage, and a hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning for coastline from Todos Santos to Cabo San Lazaro.
A dangerous storm surge was expected to be accompanied by large and damaging waves near the coast, the NHC said, warning that heavy rainfall may trigger “significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.”
Authorities set up storm shelters and school children in the state of Baja California Sur were told to stay home on Friday.
Ports were closed for smaller boats and flights were cancelled at the Los Cabos and La Paz airports.
Olaf also brought heavy rainfall on the northwestern mainland that could cause landslides, overflowing rivers and flooding, Mexico’s meteorological service said.
Olaf made landfall near the city of San Jose del Cabo late Thursday as a Category Two hurricane packing maximum winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
It weakened over land and lost its hurricane status as winds dropped to 70 mph, it reported.
A public hospital in Los Cabos, one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations, was evacuated due to the risk of flooding, authorities said.
But there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage, and a hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning for coastline from Todos Santos to Cabo San Lazaro.
A dangerous storm surge was expected to be accompanied by large and damaging waves near the coast, the NHC said, warning that heavy rainfall may trigger “significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.”
Authorities set up storm shelters and school children in the state of Baja California Sur were told to stay home on Friday.
Ports were closed for smaller boats and flights were cancelled at the Los Cabos and La Paz airports.
Olaf also brought heavy rainfall on the northwestern mainland that could cause landslides, overflowing rivers and flooding, Mexico’s meteorological service said.
Originally Published By PhysOrg