Tropical storm Juliette approaches Mexican Pacific tourist hub

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tropical storm Juliette bore down on Cabo San Lucas late Wednesday, August 28 prompting authorities to issue warnings for the coast of Baja California Sur state and urge residents to spend the night at shelters, AP reported.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) late Wednesday and was about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Cabo San Lucas.

The storm was moving quickly, about 25 mph (40 kph), and was expected to pass near or over Cabo San Lucas during the night and over the southern Baja peninsula into Thursday, when it was expected to weaken, the center said.

In Cabo San Lucas, police officers used their patrol cars' speakers to warn people in neighborhoods prone to flooding and urge them to go to one of 164 shelters set up by authorities.

Baja California Sur Gov. Marcos Covarrubias said the ports of La Paz and Los Cabos had closed navigation to small and medium size vessels and the airports in the port cities were closed to small planes.

"This storm's trajectory is toward our state and it will dump a significant amount of rain, and that's why those who live in high-risk areas should go to a shelter and not wait until the last minute," he said.

The storm was expected to drop 1 to 3 inches of rain over the area.