The former Category 4 Hurricane Bud is expected to continue to weaken, becoming a tropical storm or a depression by the time it reaches Western Mexico on Thursday, according to multiple sources, including AccuWeather. Although it is no longer categorized as a hurricane, the storm is still expected to threaten Baja California with flooding rainfall and rough seas this week.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for southern Baja California Sur from Santa Fe to La Paz, including Cabo San Lucas. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, generally within 36 hours.
Bud became the second major hurricane of the season in the East Pacific basin on Monday morning and reached peak strength on Tuesday morning with sustained winds of 130 mph. It is currently 250 miles south-southeast of Los Cabos but is moving right in its direction, according to The Weather Channel.
Relatively slow movement over cooler water will cause Bud to weaken further as it approaches the coast of southern Baja California Thursday night.
Heavy rainfall across parts of western Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa and southern Baja California Sur, as well as thunderstorms, flash flooding and mudslides are expected or possible. Damage to trees and power outages are also likely. Rough seas and dangerous rip currents will threaten beaches from Manzanillo to Mazatlan, as well as southern Baja California Sur.
At least Delta, Southwest, American Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit and Funjet Vacations have issued flight change waivers for customers flying to, from or through Los Cabos in anticipation of potential travel disruptions caused by the storm.
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