Hurricane Trudy lashes Mexico’s Pacific coast as officials warn of floods

Category 2 Hurricane Trudy battered Mexico’s Pacific coast with rain and strong winds Sunday, threatening flooding and mudslides before its forecast departure, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Earlier storms had already left the ground saturated, increasing concerns about damage from additional rainfall. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned that flooding and mudslides could threaten lives, particularly in steep terrain.

Trudy was moving northwest at 8 mph, with its center expected to stay near Mexico’s coast through Sunday evening, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. Forecasts placed it south of the Baja California Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday.

Rainfall through the weekend was forecast at four to eight inches, with isolated totals of about 12 inches along and near the coasts of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. Authorities in Colima assessed the risks as low but cautioned that heavy rain could damage areas where the ground was already saturated.

Tropical storm warnings remained in place for Las Islas Marias and the coastal stretch from Playa Perula to San Blas. The Mexican navy urged mariners and coastal residents to be especially cautious as officials warned about high waves, rising rivers, flooding and landslides.

Separately, Typhoon Champi was moving away from Guam after passing near its southern tip, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. It had sustained winds of 140 mph and was about 260 miles west of Guam by late Sunday afternoon, moving west at 12 mph. The forecast called for weakening Sunday, followed by possible strengthening to Category 5 by Monday evening.

Tropical cyclone watches and warnings had been lifted for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Airports, harbors and some health facilities in the territories were closed. President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Guam Saturday, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate federal disaster relief, after the governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands sought emergency declarations Friday.

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands were still recovering from super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, which struck in April and July, respectively. According to Saturday FEMA updates cited by ABC7 Los Angeles, relief supplies were unlikely to reach the islands for three to five days.