By Pete Thomas
Folks in and around Cabo San Lucas are bracing for the late-week arrival of Hurricane Bud, likely as a tropical storm but still potentially dangerous.
At midday Tuesday, Hurricane Bud was located 325 miles south-southeast of the resort city on Baja California’s tip. The storm boasted sustained winds of 125 mph, but was slowly weakening.
“We are expecting to get hit by Bud, we just don't know how hard yet,” Eric Brictson, owner of Gordo Banks Pangas in nearby San Jose del Cabo, said via email. “But either way we are busy preparing, so far just higher surf conditions and humidity. Still fishing today, will become tougher tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. We will hope for the best, though I believe we will get 10 inches or more of rain and have winds gusting near 50 mph.”
According to the Florida-based National Hurricane Center, Bud will remain at hurricane strength – winds 74 mph or stronger – through Wednesday. Tropical Storm Bud will sweep through Los Cabos and up a portion of the peninsula Thursday into Friday, before entering the Sea of Cortez.
Rebecca Ehrenberg, a yacht services specialist with Pisces Group Cabo in Cabo San Lucas, said the port will close Wednesday and remain closed until the storm passes. “We have a big surfing competition at the moment here, so at least the surfers are happy about it,” Ehrenberg said, in reference to large surf generated by the storm.
Ehrenberg added, “Looks like we won’t have too much to worry about, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope that’s the case.”
Last September, Tropical Storm Lidia caused widespread flooding and damage in Los Cabos and as far north as La Paz.
In September 2014, Hurricane Odile came ashore as a Category 3 hurricane, becoming the most powerful storm ever to strike Los Cabos. Buildings were leveled, windows were blown out while hotel guests huddled in rooms, automobiles were flipped, power lines and trees were downed.
Thousands of tourists and residents were forced to stay in shelters after hotels and houses were destroyed. Airports were closed and the National Guard hastened to airlift the sick and elderly to other locations.
Hurricane Bud, currently a Category 3 storm, will weaken significantly before making landfall, but should not be taken lightly.
As of Tuesday morning, no warnings or watches had been issued. But the National Hurricane Center advised, “Interests in southern Baja California Sur, Mexico, should monitor the progress of Bud.”
–Geocolor satellite image of Hurricane Bud is courtesy of the National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center
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