Trudy Follows Simon and Rachel — A West Coast Hurricanes Update
While Hurricane Simon has unloaded a drenching upon Mexico’s west coast, another system has now strengthened and is making its way toward shore. Hurricane Trudy is the latest in a run of late-in-the-season hurricanes giving our southern neighbors a rough few weeks.
To date, Hurricane Simon, which did not actually make landfall, is said to have weakened to a remnant low, but not before causing Mexico boaters some degree of distress earlier this week. John Schulthess of Wind Toys sent us an update from his location on Barra Navidad.
“All reports from our marina and town are all good. Baja Fog had 24 kts in her slip, no surge or waves; the swells from the entrance channel go right by the marina entrance and head to the massive lagoon, where nobody was anchored as far as I know. Anyone out there would come into the hurricane-hole marina. Now let’s talk high water!
“Most restaurants on the lagoon and the back side of town that backs to the lagoon had a foot of water on their decks; just flooding again, no waves washing stuff away, I figure 4–5 feet of tide. The nearby towns can’t handle the 6+ inches of rain coming down from the hills. We see the rivers washing down their streets every rainy season, but we always wondered why the sidewalks were two feet higher than the streets — standard summer mode?
“We had about 4 feet of piling left before we got docks floating away. Monique and I worked pretty hard last season rebedding deck hardware, and it paid off! Our local and favorite boat-maintenance guy Pancho reports totally dry bilges. All canvas and hatch covers are still in place.”
“Our friend Fito Espinoza, dock master at Marina Coral, Ensenda, reports that the boats all came through unscathed after enduring the wrath of Tropical Storm Rachel added to Simon’s force.
“Fortunately we don’t have any damage in our marina. The winds were tolerable so our dock and boats handled [them] well.
“In the city we did see extensive flooding in the streets, and unfortunately, loss of life and people missing that were swept into the arroyo south of Ensenada.”
According to recent news reports, six people have died as a result of the storms that caused major flooding and landslides along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
But it’s not over yet. Another storm system, this one, named Hurricane Trudy, is making its way toward the Mexico coastline.
As of this morning, NOAA reported that satellite wind data shows Trudy is weaker than previously indicated, with a hurricane-hunter crew launching to investigate. Whatever the outcome, it appears Mexico is in for another very wet weekend at the least.
NOAA has issued warnings for the following regions:
A Hurricane Warning for the coast of Mexico from Manzanillo northward to Playa Perula; the coast of Mexico north of Playa Perula to Cabo Corrientes, and the coast of Mexico from Manzanillo southward to Punta San Telmo.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Manzanillo southward to Zihuatanejo, and the coast of Mexico north of Cabo Corrientes to San Blas.
Stay safe out there!