Hurricane Trudy could bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides to parts of Mexico

Trudy weakens near Mexico

Trudy had sustained winds of 105 mph in the hurricane center’s early Sunday update, placing it in Category 2. It had reached Category 3 late last week while moving toward Mexico, but weakened afterward.

The storm’s center was expected to stay close to the Mexican coast through Sunday evening, then move south of the Baja California Peninsula. A hurricane warning covered the coast from Manzanillo, in Colima, to Cabo Corrientes, in Jalisco. A tropical storm warning remained for Las Islas Marias, while the warning from Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas was lifted.

Rain threatens saturated ground

Forecast rainfall through the weekend ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with isolated amounts of about 12 inches possible along and near the coast in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. The hurricane center warned that steep areas faced particular risks of severe flooding and mudslides.

Colima officials described the danger as low but cautioned that additional rain could cause damage. They said the ground was already saturated after successive storms along the Pacific coast.

Pacific islands face storm impacts

In the Pacific, Typhoon Champi passed near Guam as a super typhoon with sustained winds of 150 mph, classified as Category 4 strength. It had traveled near Guam’s southern tip and was moving farther from the island on Sunday.

Champi could reach Category 5 strength early Monday local time. Guam and Rota remained under a typhoon warning, while warnings and watches for Tinian and Saipan were canceled. The governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands requested emergency disaster declarations on Friday.

Closures delay island aid

Airports, harbors and some health facilities across the territories were closed. FEMA updates on Saturday said resources might not reach the islands for three to five days.