Hurricane Lorena Intensifies Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (September 3, 2025) - Tropical Storm Lorena strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane early Wednesday, prompting new warnings and raising concerns over flash floods and mudslides across northwestern Mexico.

Lorena’s center was located about 165 km (105 miles) south of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and stronger gusts, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is moving northward at roughly 24 km/h (15 mph), tracking parallel to the western coast of the Baja California peninsula.

Mexican authorities have issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the coast of Baja California Sur from Santa Fe to Cabo San Lázaro, and a Tropical Storm Watch farther north. Conagua, Mexico’s national water commission, urged residents in higher terrain to prepare for “life-threatening flash floods and mudslides” as Lorena’s heavy rain bands advance inland.

Heavy rainfall is expected from September 3-5 across Baja California Sur, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Nayarit and Sinaloa, with localized amounts of up to 380 mm (15 inches) possible in mountainous areas. Forecasters warn that even if Lorena remains just offshore, its outer rainbands could trigger significant flooding in coastal communities.

Rapid intensification is likely to continue through Wednesday night, though increasing southwesterly wind shear and cooler sea-surface temperatures are forecast to induce weakening by Thursday evening. The hurricane is projected to downgrade back to a tropical storm by Friday before possibly making landfall on the central Baja California Sur coast on Saturday.

Interests throughout northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States - including Arizona - should monitor updates closely, as moisture from Lorena may produce isolated flash flooding in desert and mountain regions through the weekend. Continuous tracking of official advisories is strongly recommended.