MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Rachel has intensified into a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, the National Hurricane Center reported, while northern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest continue recovering from flooding caused by Hurricane Polo earlier this week.
The storm is currently situated approximately 245 miles (390 kilometers) off the southern tip of Baja California, moving slowly westward. Forecasters expect it to intensify further before weakening over the weekend.
Dangerous surf conditions are anticipated along Mexico’s coastline due to Rachel’s swells, the NHC warned. Maximum sustained winds reached 120 mph (193 kph) as of Thursday afternoon.
Mexican officials remain on high alert, citing forecasts for torrential rain across Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Jalisco, alongside risks of landslides, rising river levels, and flash flooding.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico alerted citizens in Cabo San Lucas on Wednesday night regarding beach and port closures and the threat of deadly rip currents.
The Pacific hurricane season has been exceptionally active, with experts linking the trend to El Niño, which has driven droughts in Mexico and Central America and floods elsewhere. Warmer waters and wind patterns have fueled the storms. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Nolo moved northwest away from Hawaii, with potential to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.
In the U.S., remnants of previous storms continue to batter Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa, causing street flooding, neighborhood inundation, and water rescues.
Lincoln, Nebraska, recorded its wettest day ever on Wednesday with 6.1 inches of rain, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Climate Office.
Omaha received 4.7 inches of rain on Wednesday, prompting the fire department to conduct 80 water rescues over a three-hour period. Floodwaters reached depths of 8 feet in some areas. Schools stayed open, but buses were unable to navigate flooded parking lots, leading officials to request parental assistance with transportation.
Over 20,000 Texas residents lost power Thursday afternoon, per PowerOutage.us. Social media videos showed floodwaters creating waves along Interstate 35 in Denton, while San Antonio urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Chicago’s wastewater and stormwater management utility asked residents to conserve water to prevent system backups and flooding.
“We encourage everyone to conserve water when possible to create more capacity in our systems,” said utility President Kari K. Steele in a Wednesday statement.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly declared an emergency proclamation on Wednesday, enabling state resources to support first responders in impacted communities.
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