MIAMI, Florida — Hurricane Trudy strengthened to Category 2 early on Friday with maximum sustained winds of about 105 mph, and forecasters expect it to become a major hurricane, potentially reaching Category 4, as it passes close to Mexico’s Pacific coast this weekend, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center data reported by news agencies.
In its overnight advisory, the hurricane center placed Trudy about 230 miles southwest of Acapulco, moving north-northwest at about 7 mph, according to tracking data summarizing the advisory. A day earlier the storm had 90 mph winds and had intensified rapidly over 24 hours, according to reports citing the center.
Mexico has a hurricane watch in effect for part of the coast north of Punta San Telmo toward Playa Perula and the Cabo Corrientes area, and a tropical storm warning for the coast from Punta San Telmo southward to Zihuatanejo, according to the National Hurricane Center advisories reported on Thursday. Officials said additional watches or warnings could be required as the storm moves north.
The main threat on land is water. Through the weekend, Trudy is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rain across Colima and Jalisco, with isolated totals near 12 inches, according to the hurricane center. Its outer bands could bring 2 to 4 inches, with isolated totals near 6 inches, along the coast between Guerrero and Michoacan. Forecasters warned the rain could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain.
Swells generated by Trudy are expected to affect southwestern Mexico from Friday through the weekend, creating life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions, according to the center. Tropical-storm-force winds could reach parts of the coast as early as Saturday, with the highest chances near Manzanillo and Barra de Navidad, and Puerto Vallarta also in the area of risk, according to forecast summaries.
Trudy is approaching a region already battered in recent weeks by storms that caused deaths and severe flooding, according to Reuters. That saturated ground raises the danger that even areas outside the storm’s direct wind core see flash flooding, swollen rivers and landslides on mountain roads.
Forecasters expect Trudy to peak as a major hurricane on Friday or Saturday and then begin to weaken and turn away early next week, according to the hurricane center’s forecast track. Forecasts several days out can change, and residents were urged to follow official advisories rather than any single track line.
This is an update to Zark News’ October 15 report on Trudy. The new developments are the rise to Category 2, the forecast peak near Category 4, and the watches and warnings now in effect for the Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes coast. Zark News will update this story if the hurricane center changes the track or warnings materially.
