STORM-BLANCA/MEXICO-UPDATE Hurricane Blanca downgraded as it nears Mexico's Baja California

Record ID: 150381

  • Title: STORM-BLANCA/MEXICO-UPDATE Hurricane Blanca downgraded as it nears Mexico's Baja California
  • Date: 7th June 2015
  • Summary: CABO SAN LUCAS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO (JUNE 7, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HIGH TIDE VARIOUS OF STREETS WITH RAIN AND PALM TREES SWAYING IN THE WIND VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS AT VOTING CENTRE AS WIND BLOWS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOSE HERNANDEZ, AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I think we should make an effort to push ahead on this voting because there's much psychosis over the matte
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAPCKOMQOI9LB0FV96G6XORB2J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hurricane Blanca weakened to a category 1 storm on Sunday (June 7) as it approached Mexico's Baja California peninsula, according to the latest update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
    Blanca, the second hurricane to form off Mexico's Pacific coast this year, is located about 180 miles (290 km) south-southwest of the tourist hub of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the peninsula.
    The hurricane, which reached category 4 storm status on Saturday, features maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour (150 km/h) and is moving north-northwest at a pace of 12 mph (19 km/h).
    The NHC expects Blanca to approach the southwest coast of the peninsula later on Sunday and move near or along the coast as a weakened tropical storm as late as early Monday morning.
    Further weakening is expected by Monday night.
    Mid-term regional and congressional elections are being held throughout the country and this voter said it was important for Mexicans to get out and vote despite the pending storm.
    "I think we should make an effort to push ahead on this voting because there's much psychosis over the matter of the hurricane but, up to now, it (the storm) hasn't happened so we can still participate to get out this election which is so important.," said Jose Hernandez.
    Voting is due to run until 2300 GMT. President Enrique Pena Nieto's party is expected to keep its slim working majority in the lower house of Congress despite discontent about corruption, gang violence and lackluster economic growth.
    Luis Felipe Puente, the national head of emergency services, told reporters on Saturday that 18,000 tourists were vacationing in and around the Cabo San Lucas resort, and nearly three-quarters of them were foreigners who may require help leaving the area.
    Flights out of the international airport were cancelled.
    Blanca could produce total rainfall of between 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm) over much of Baja California, including the possibility of "life threatening flash floods and mudslides," the NHC added.
    Last September, Hurricane Odile caused severe damage along a large swath of southern Baja California, flooding much of Cabo San Lucas and stranding thousands of tourists.
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