Lorena becomes post-tropical cyclone, flood risk remains for Baja California as moisture impacts Southwest US

According to the FOX Forecast Center, some of the tropical moisture from Lorena is now enhancing the seasonal monsoon weather pattern across the Southwest U.S.

Lorena became a post-tropical cyclone Friday morning but is still bringing heavy rain and the risk of life-threatening flash flooding to the Baja California Sur region of Mexico through Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Heavy rain from then-Hurricane Lorena flooded the Los Cabos community of Mexico and washed away cars and parts of roads beginning on Wednesday. Lorena was downgraded back to a tropical storm Thursday morning and is expected to continue to weaken and dissipate this weekend.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, some of the tropical moisture from Lorena is now enhancing the seasonal monsoon weather pattern across the Southwest U.S., with places in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and West Texas expected to receive an additional inch of rain through the weekend.

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The Mexican National Guard helped remove debris from streets and even hospitals in Los Cabos on Wednesday, which includes the popular resort city of Cabo San Lucas, as people there began to clean up after the heaviest rain from Lorena had passed.

Urban flooding was seen on verified social media accounts from Cabo San Lucas Wednesday morning. The government of Baja California Sur opened shelters and suspended schools and work in five municipalities.

This graphic shows the current status of Hurricane Lorena in the Eastern Pacific.
(FOX Weather)


 

All Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings for Mexico were dropped Thursday evening. 

Lorena is currently 170 miles west of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. What is left of the storm is expected to now move west, away from land before continuing to weaken.

The NHC expects that 4-8 inches of additional rain could fall across parts of Baja California Sur and far southeastern Baja California through Friday.

Lorena became a hurricane in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Wednesday morning.

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This graphic shows the forecast cone for Hurricane Lorena in the Eastern Pacific.
(FOX Weather)


 

Moisture from Hurricane Lorena to surge into US Southwest

According to the FOX Forecast Center, abundant atmospheric moisture from Lorena is now surging into the Southwest U.S.

While the heaviest rain is expected across Mexico, parts of Arizona and New Mexico could receive a widespread 1-2 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible.

This is a somewhat similar pattern to the heavy rain that fell across parts of Southern California and Nevada last week, which was somewhat enhanced by the moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Juliette.

Phoenix also saw a massive dust storm last week, known as a haboob, which is caused by the monsoon weather pattern.

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The Eastern Pacific Basin has already had an active start to the season, producing 10 named storms so far, five of them hurricanes, including three that reached Category 3 strength or higher.

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Elsewhere in the Pacific Basin, Hurricane Kiko, which reached major status earlier this week, is moving into the Central Pacific Ocean in the general direction of Hawaii.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to Nov. 30. 

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