Hurricane Trudy strengthened to a Category 2 storm on Saturday as it advanced toward Mexico’s southwestern and west-central Pacific coast, bringing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and forecasts of up to 15 inches of rain. The system prompted hurricane warnings from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes as officials braced for severe flooding.
Hurricane Trudy Nears Mexico’s Coast With 100 MPH Winds
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Trudy was about 380 kilometers southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero, at 9 a.m. Mexico City time on Friday. National Meteorological Service chief Fabián Vázquez stated that the hurricane could near the coast of Jalisco and Colima as a major hurricane, noting it would come very close at about 65 kilometers from the coast.
Trudy in the East Pacific is now a hurricane. With a small and robust inner core forming, it seems poised to rapidly intensify over the next day or two. It may be somewhat limited by upwelling, as the ocean hasn't fully recovered from the cold wakes left by Polo, Rachel, and… pic.twitter.com/8uEDfLumAS
Moving northwest at 10 mph, Trudy carried maximum sustained winds of 100 mph as its center prepared to approach the shoreline on Saturday and pass near it into Sunday, tracked by the latest U.S. National Hurricane Center data about 205 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes and 115 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo.
Mexico’s government issued a tropical storm warning for Las Islas Marias while discontinuing a similar advisory for the coast south of Lazaro Cardenas. State authorities across Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nayarit stayed on alert as forecasters warned that the storm’s close pass could still unleash destructive weather.
Heavy Rainfall Threatens Saturated Ground Across Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco
Isolated totals reaching up to 15 inches through the weekend are anticipated, with general rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across the Pacific coast. The Mexican navy urged mariners and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution regarding high waves, heavy rain, and the risk of rising rivers, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Colima authorities noted that while structural risks remained low initially, heavy rainfall posed a severe threat because the ground was already saturated by successive storms earlier in the season. The steep, narrow mountain ranges directly behind Mexico’s Pacific coastline tend to accelerate rainfall down ravines, turning moderate accumulations into fast-moving debris torrents.
Norwegian Bliss Cancels Scheduled Arrival in Acapulco
Thousands of cruise passengers aboard the Norwegian Bliss saw their scheduled Saturday arrival in Acapulco canceled. Guests were notified of the change days in advance, replacing the beach resort stop with an unplanned day at sea as the ship headed toward its next stop in Guatemala.
On land, Manzanillo’s commercial port remained on standby for potential cargo disruptions, following a season that previously forced multi-day shutdowns at Puerto Vallarta’s international airport.
