- Title: MEXICO: Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Jimena headed for western Mexico
- Date: 1st September 2009
- Summary: LOS CABOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO (AUGUST 31, 2009) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW LOS CABOS PEOPLE ON BEACH WITH DOGS U.S. LOS CABOS RESIDENTS TALKING ON BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. CITIZEN FROM LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA, LORENZO SCHROEDER, SAYING: "I put up all my hurricane doors and everything yesterday. Got tons of fresh water, got a lot of ice, got wine - and you just mainly worry about loss of electricity or too much rain." SCHROEDER WALKING DOGS VARIOUS OF WORKERS MOVING FURNITURE FROM BEACH RESTAURANT GENERAL VIEW OF EMPTY "MANGO" RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MANAGER OF "MANGO DECK" RESTAURANT, DAVID ZAPATA, SAYING: "We are following how the situation (hurricane) is evolving by internet. Authorities have started protecting some areas due to high tide. The tide has gone up, it's high and I expect strong rainfall and wind tomorrow." VARIOUS OF WORKERS MOVING RESTAURANT FURNITURE (4 SHOTS) VARIOUS WORKERS TAKING OUT SKI JETS (2 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 16th September 2009 17:06
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVACGGZZSW7B0PC93X2S5JD8Z1JB
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Los Cabos residents and tourists brace themselves as Hurricane Jimena, a dangerous Category 4 storm, heads toward Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Hurricane warning issued; winds reach 145 mph (230 kph).
Hurricane Jimena, a dangerous Category 4 storm, churned toward Mexico's Baja California Peninsula on Monday (August 31), headed for the upscale resort of Los Cabos where residents and tourists stocked up on fuel and food.
Jimena, which built up fast over the weekend, was packing 145 mph (230 kph) winds with higher gusts. According to the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, Category 4 hurricanes are "extremely dangerous" and can cause devastating damage if they hit land.
Much of Baja California is sparsely populated desert and mountains but Los Cabos is a lively resort area popular with U.S. tourists for its world-class golf courses, yachting and beaches.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast Jimena would hit the area on Tuesday (September 01) and move inland on Wednesday (September 02).
The storm was a safe distance from shore on Monday and Los Cabos, at the tip of the peninsula, was overcast but calm.
But Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the south of the peninsula and the hurricane center predicted significant coastal flooding and said: "Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion."
The length of the Baja California Peninsula is popular with U.S. camper van enthusiasts, nature lovers, surfers, sports fishermen and retirees.
The hurricane center said Jimena could dump 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) of rain on the southern portion of Baja California.
"I put up all my hurricane doors and everything yesterday. Got tons of fresh water, got a lot of ice, got wine - and you just mainly worry about loss of electricity or too much rain," Lorenzo Schroeder a resident of Los Cabos originally from Lake Tahoe, Nevada, said at the weekend as he stocked up on food.
Workers moved furniture belonging to a beach restaurant called "Mango Deck" to safety.
Restaurant Manager, David Zapata, said he was following developments via internet.
"We are following how the situation (hurricane) is evolving by internet. Authorities have started protecting some areas due to high tide. The tide has gone up, it's high and I expect strong rainfall and wind tomorrow," he said.
Jimena was located about 355 miles (570 km) southeast of Cabo San Lucas and moving northwest, roughly parallel to the Mexican coastline, at 8 mph (13 kph). Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from its center.
Mexico has no oil installations in the Pacific and ports in the area remained open.
Jimena is the second hurricane of the 2009 eastern Pacific season to brush close to Mexico after Andres pounded the coast in June and swept a fisherman to his death in Acapulco.
Further out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Kevin petered out and was set to weaken to a depression later on Monday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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