Carlos downgraded to tropical storm off the coast of Mexico
Courtesy: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
Digital Reporter
Sunday, June 14, 2015, 6:40 PM - Meteorologists are keeping an eye on the third tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific Ocean season. After strengthening overnight, Carlos intensified to a hurricane but then dropped down to a tropical storm Sunday afternoon. Carlos is expected to regain hurricane status by Monday.
As of 2 p.m. EDT., the eye of the storm was located about 120 kilometres west-southwest of Acapulco with sustained winds of up to 110 km/h.
Hurricane warnings were issued from Acapulco to Punta San Telmo.
The storm could bring locally heavy rain to Mexico's south coast this weekend, particularly in Oaxaca and Guerrero. The main threat remains the potential for localized flooding on account of heavy rainfall.
Mudslides are also a potential hazard once downpours hit the rugged terrain of the coastal regions.
RELATED: Early predictions see a quiet tropical storm season
On Saturday, Carlos had sustained winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour.
"Ocean swells associated with Carlos are expected to increase near the coast of southern Mexico during the next few days," the National Hurricane Center in the U.S. says in a statement.
"These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."
Tropical storm conditions possible in southwestern Mexico starting late Saturday. https://t.co/Oy8uoeRKme #Carlos pic.twitter.com/14g9OXbrpE
— NHC E. Pacific Ops (@NHC_Pacific) June 12, 2015
Carlos is expected to gain intensity through the weekend as it travels over warm waters,.
The storm will reach cooler waters by the beginning of next week, which should help to slow it down before it reaches the Baja California Peninsula.
Source: The National Hurricane Center
RELATED: TOP FIVE CANADIAN HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS:
