Tropical Storm Ileana Approaches Los Cabos Resorts with Heavy Rainfall Expected
MEXICO CITY—Authorities in Mexico’s resort-studded Los Cabos area issued a warning to tourists and residents to remain indoors on Friday as Tropical Storm Ileana started to bring heavy rain to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
Ileana developed on Thursday off the Pacific coast of Mexico and was moving slowly north-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph), as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The projected path indicated that it would make landfall near or over the twin resorts of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
As of Friday morning, Ileana was approximately 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph). The storm was expected to hit the coastline within the next few hours.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for parts of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Forecasters anticipated 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rainfall with Ileana, with the possibility of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in coastal areas of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states by the end of Friday.
It is forecasted that Ileana will move across the southern part of the Baja California peninsula on Friday and then over the southern and central Gulf of California during the weekend.
In response to the storm, Los Cabos Civil Protection issued a red alert for Los Cabos and La Paz on Friday morning, advising residents to remain indoors until further notice and stay informed about alerts from the authorities.
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Residents were also cautioned to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and low-lying areas where they could be carried away by water.
All schools in Los Cabos were closed on Friday due to the storm.
Óscar Cruces Rodríguez of Mexico’s federal Civil Protection advised residents to remain indoors until the storm passes and seek shelter if they are in flood-prone areas.
Authorities set up 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to Los Cabos Civil Protection.
At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet worker Alan Galvan reported that the rain had been steady since late Thursday night. “The rain isn’t very intense right now, but the waves are rough,” he mentioned.
“The guests are staying calm and have come down for coffee,” Galvan remarked. “While some flights have been canceled, everything is fine at the moment.” Galvan added that they are awaiting further updates from authorities.
Felipe Gomez, an employee at the Vibrant Cabo San Lucas Marina Restaurant, was the first to arrive for work but was waiting for instructions from management on whether they would close. “Honestly, the situation is quite bad right now, with the main boulevard flooded and all businesses shut,” Gomez observed.
“I’ll wait for confirmation and then head home,” he stated. “I hope conditions improve and don’t worsen.”
By Mariana Martínez Barba
