La Tropical Storm Raymond weakened overnight Saturday into a post-tropical cyclone as you approach the southern end of the Baja California Sur PeninsulaDespite the loss of organization, the system maintains a wide range of humidity that will continue to favor heavy rains and dangerous waves in northwestern Mexico.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Weather Service (NWS), the remnant of Raymond continues to move. to the north-northwest, almost parallel to the Mexican Pacific coast, with the prospect of gradually weakening and dissipate throughout Sunday. Authorities are urging extreme caution in the face of possible Flash floods and rip currents.
Current situation and position
The latest official report indicates that the system retains sustained winds close to 45 km/h, with stronger gusts, and its center was located late Saturday at about 20 km south-southwest of Cabo San LucasThe movement continues towards the northwest at about 15 km/h, with a tendency to continue parallel to the coast before its dissipation.
Rain, wind and waves forecast
Over the next few hours, moisture associated with Raymond will bring additional accumulations of 50 to 100 mm in large areas of Sonora, the northwest of Sinaloa and the north of Chihuahua, with potential for flash floods, especially in mountain areas and riverbeds prone to flooding.
They are also expected rainfall of 25 to 50 mm in the center of Sinaloa, portions of Baja California Sur and the southeastern tip of Baja CaliforniaThese precipitations could be accompanied by electric shocks and gusts that hinder the movement and operation of small boats.
On the Pacific coast, the tidal waves generated by the system will continue to leave waves of 2,5 to 3,5 meters on the southern coast of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Nayarit, and 1,5 to 2,5 meters in western Baja California. The combination of waves and rip currents can create dangerous conditions for swimming and boating.
The meteorological authority warns that the wind could reach strong gusts in the coastal area and high areas of the northwest of the country, with the possibility of falling branches, announcements and occasional power outages, in addition to puddles in urban areas.
Official alerts and measures
The Government of Mexico maintains tropical storm warnings in sections of the Pacific coast due to residual effects of rain, wind and swell. They are in effect between Manzanillo and Cabo Corrientes (Jalisco), for the Marias Islands, and from Los Barriles to Santa Fe en Baja California Sur, according to the NHC and SMN advisories.
As a preventive measure against the poor state of the sea, the Navy established temporary port closures and navigation restrictions: measures for larger vessels are highlighted in Lazaro Cardenas y Zihuatanejo, and for smaller vessels at points such as Christmas bar y ManzanilloIt is recommended to check the local status at each port authority.
Trajectory and evolution
Raymond formed up in front of the coasts of Guerrero and traveled parallel to the Mexican Pacific coast heading towards northwest, approaching the south of Baja California Sur. After its weakening to post-tropical remnant, the expectation is that it will continue to lose strength and dissipate in the coming hours, although the associated humidity will still favor precipitation in northwest Mexico and could extend showers in the southwest of the United States at the beginning of the week.
Recommendations to the population
Civil Protection urges extreme caution in areas with flood risk, avoid crossing rivers, streams or flooded streets, and stay away from cliffs and breakers during the storm. Those living on the coast should secure loose objects and heed the instructions of the local authorities.
For breaking news and official announcements, please check the channels of the SMN/Conagua and the NHCThe maritime and tourist population should follow the reports of harbor masters and rescue services, as sea conditions can change rapidly.
With the system already weakened but still wet, the focus is on rain, waves and currents which will continue to affect different sections of the Pacific and the northwest of the country; caution and attention to official reports will be key until the disturbance finish dissipating.
