Tropical Storm ERIKA…

Tropical Storm Erika formed in the Atlantic late on Tuesday. Erika is centered east of the northern Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds are 80km/h and has become nearly stationary. It should resume a WNW movement later tonight. Tropical storm watches have been issued for the northern Leeward Islands. Residents of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will have to watch this system carefully. Even if Erika remains a tropical storm, it could be capable of producing heavy rain and widespread flooding.

Hurricane JIMENA…

As of 2 p.m. Pacific Time Tuesday, Jimena was located WSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds have lowered slightly to near 195km/h. Jimena should continue to gradually weaken over colder waters.

Jimena is moving to the north-northwest; this motion is expected to continue. Jimena is expected to approach the southern coast of the Baja Peninsula by Wednesday but the worst of it will miss Cabo San Lucas.

The farther north Jimena goes before it makes landfall the longer it has to weaken, but Jimena could still be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches the coast.

Only two major hurricanes have hit Baja California directly, Hurricane Kiko on August 27, 1989 and Hurricane Olivia on October 14, 1967.

The hurricane warning is in effect on both coasts of the Baja Peninsula and now stretches from Punta Abreojos on the West Coast around the southern tip of the peninsula and north to Mulege on the East Coast (this includes Cabo San Lucas). A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are possible within 24 hours. The southern tip of the warning area will see rapidly deteriorating conditions tonight.

Hurricane watches have been issued farther north along the Baja Peninsula from Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia on the West Coast and from Mulege to Bahia San Juan Bautista on the East Coast. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours.

Tropical storm watches are also in effect for the West Coast of Mainland Mexico from Altata to Baha Kino. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours.

Residents and visitors of southern half of Baja California should be finishing their preparations for a major hurricane. A dangerous storm surge, damaging winds, battering waves and heavy, flooding rains are all possible.

Impacts from Jimena will be felt along mainland Mexico as well. Dangerous rip currents, large and battering waves and heavy, flooding rainfall are expected.

The waves and rip currents are occurring from Manzanillo northward, while the heaviest rain should fall from Mazatlan north.

Flash flooding and landslides are most likely over the mountains.