MEXICO — Mexico issued a tropical storm warning Saturday along the coast from Altata to Huatabampito and suspended all watches and warnings for Baja California Sur after rain from Storm Ileana pounded the resort-studded city of Los Cabos the day before.
Ileana moved north over the southern Gulf of California at 7 mph (11 km/h), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm was located about 70 miles (110 km) east of La Paz, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), the center said.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the northern coasts of Sinaloa and extreme southern Sonola.
As of Friday, a warning was in effect for parts of the Baja California peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
Juan Manuel Arce Ortega, of the Civil Protection of Los Cabos, said the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos were on red alert at the time and urged residents to avoid crossing rivers, streams and low-lying areas where they could be swept away by the water.
All schools in Los Cabos were also suspended Friday due to the storm.
Óscar Cruces Rodríguez of Mexico’s Federal Civil Protection said in a statement that residents should avoid leaving their homes until the storm passes and if they are in an area at risk of flooding, find temporary shelter.
Authorities have prepared 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to the Los Cabos Civil Protection.
At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet Alan Galvan said the rain arrived late Thursday night and has been steady. “The rain is not very heavy right now, but the waves are rough,” he said.
“The customers are very calm and have already gone downstairs to have coffee,” Galvan said. “Some flights have been cancelled, but everything is fine for now.” Galvan said they are waiting for further advice from the authorities.
Rain remained steady in Los Cabos Friday afternoon, with several roads flooded and some resorts piling sandbags around their perimeters. Some people were still walking around the docks with their umbrellas.
“The priority must be safety, starting with that of the workers. We must always monitor our colleagues who live in risk areas,” explains Lyzzette Liceaga, a tour operator in Los Cabos.
“We pass on to them the information shared by the authorities – the firefighters in the risk areas – so that they can go to the shelters if necessary,” she added.
