Tropical Storm Lorena weakened significantly over the past day, but heavy rainfall from the storm could produce flash flooding in Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sept. 4 (UPI) — Lorena weakened back to tropical storm strength Wednesday after spending about a day as a hurricane off the western Mexican coast, forecasters said.
The storm, which formed early Tuesday, was about 175 miles west of Cabo San Lazaro on the Baja California Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center in its 8 p.m. PDT update.
It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving northwest at 5 mph.
The Mexican government canceled all watches and warnings associated with Lorena, but the NHC warned that areas in Baja California Sur and Sonora should monitor heavy rainfall across the region.
“This will increase the risk of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across northwest Mexico,” the NHC said.
Forecasters also called for heavy rainfall in Arizona and New Mexico with flash flooding possible in Arizona.
Lorena, the 12th named storm in the Eastern North Pacific this year, formed as Hurricane Kiko continued to strengthen over the Pacific Ocean.