MEXICO. "Miriam" is over the Pacific Ocean approaching the western coast of the Baja California peninsula, but it's still a category 2 hurricane in the Saffir-Simpson scale, informed today the National Meteorology Service (SMN in Spanish).
The SMN detailed in a press release published at 4:30 local time (9:30 GMT) that "Miriam" is 655 kilometers to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas, in the southern end of Baja California and 350 km of Socorro Island's west-southwest, in Colima.
The hurricane is moving to the northwest at a 9km/h speed and hasn't been assigned a potential for damage index; the Mexican government has not declared an alert for the time being.
Just two days ago "Miriam" was a tropical storm but it rapidly grew reaching a category 3 in the Saffir-Simpson scale before losing strength.
The hurricane registers winds of 165 km/h and gusts of 205 km/h according to the Meteorology Service.
The SMN expects the cyclone to "maintain its current northern trajectory," that could take it to hit Baja California during the weekend.
The states that could be affected by the hurricane are Baja California and Baja California Sur as well as the beach areas of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Sinaloa and Michoacan.
The National System of Civil Protection (SINAPROC in Spanish) has the Clarion, San Benedicto and Socorro Islands, all in Colima, on yellow alert (moderate danger).
Baja California Sur is on green alert (low danger) while Baja California, Nayarit, as well as a section of Sonora and Jalisco are on blue alert (minimum danger).
"Miriam" is the thirteenth tropical cyclone of this hurricane season in the Mexican Pacific that started on May 15 and will end next November.
Editorial@sandiegored.com
Translation: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com
