JIMENA
Hurricane Jimena
As of 2 a.m. Pacific Time Tuesday, Jimena was located about 185 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near 155 miles per hour, making Jimena a top-end category 4 hurricane, just shy of category 5 strength.
Jimena is moving to the north-northwest near 12 miles per hour; this motion is expected to continue over the next day or two. Jimena is expected to approach the southern coast of the Baja Peninsula tonight and Wednesday as a major (category 3 or higher) hurricane.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for the southern end of the Baja Peninsula from Puerto San Andresito on the West Coast around the southern tip of the peninsula and north to loreto 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 today and tonight.
Hurricane watches have been issued farther north along the Baja Peninsula from Puerto San Andresito to Punta Eugenia on the West Coast and from Loreto to Bahia San Juan Bautista on the East Coast. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. The watch may be extended further north later today.
Tropical storm watches are also in effect for the West Coast of Mainland Mexico from Altata to Huatabampito. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours. This watch may also be extended further north later today.
Hurricane force winds extend out 45 miles and tropical storm force winds out to 140 miles. Since the wind field is on the smaller side, the degree of damage will be largely dictated by the exact track Jimena travels along.
Residents and visitors of southern Baja California should be finishing their preparations for a major hurricane. Damaging winds, battering waves and heavy, flooding rains are all possible.
Because of the relatively small size of Jimena’s wind field, flooding rain will be a greater concern because this effect will be felt well away from the center and far away from the strongest winds. With heavy rain falling over the mountainous terrain of Mexico, this will lead to potentially deadly flash flooding as usually dry creeks and washes will fill quickly and stay full or overflowing for a brief period of time.
High waves being generated by Jimena are expected along the Mexican coastline from Manzanillo northward to the southern Baja. Dangerous rip currents will also be generated by the high surf in the same area. Surfers and swimmers should stay out of the water.
The last major hurricane to directly hit Baja California was Hurricane Kiko on August 27, 1989.
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