Tropical depression Manuel, which was part of a deadly storm duo that walloped Mexico from both coasts, has turned away from the Pacific coast and is headed toward Baja Californa Sur.
Manuel, which came ashore in Acapulco, teamed with tropical storm Ingrind on the east coast to cause flooding that killed more than 40 people and left tens of thousands of tourists stranded.
Residents are still digging out and tourists in Acapulco, many of them from Mexico City, are scrambling to find ways home as landslides blocked highways and roads in the region.
(Emergency flights had been evacuating tourists and Aero Mexico and Interjet resumed commercial flights to and from Acapulco on Tuesday.)
Ingrid, which was a hurricane before coming ashore on the Gulf Coast, has dissipated but Manuel isn't quite finished.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday the depression boasted winds of 35 mph, but was gaining strength and expected to regain tropical storm strength later Tuesday. Its northwesterly course has compelled Mexico to issue a tropical storm watch from Mazatlan to Altata on the mainland and from Cabo San Lucas north to San Everisto in Baja California Sur.
This basically includes Baja's eastern shore from just north of La Paz to Cabo San Lucas at Baja's tip.
Southern Baja, which until this year had been enduring a prolonged drought, has received abundant rainfall this season, leaving the desert landscape a lush green.
Manuel is expected to retain tropical storm strength as it enters the Sea of Cortez and as it makes landfall somewhere near La Paz Bay on Thursday.
–Pete Thomas
–Image is courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Comments