Hurricane Newton Hits Mexico with Threat of Flash Floods, Mud Slides

Hurricane Newton made landfall Tuesday morning in northwest Mexico and will probably cause damage from heavy rain.

Cabo San Lucas, a popular tourist destination, will be hit by winds moving as fast as 90 miles (144 kilometers) an hour, according to the latest advisory note by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Newton is expected to reach the mainland as a hurricane early Wednesday morning as it gradually weakens.

Associated rainfall of as much as 18 inches, could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, especially in the areas of mountainous terrain. An advisory from the Mexican national weather service said the storm could be accompanied by hail, dust tornadoes and eddies, and warned against the risk of electric shock.

“A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall on both the southern Baja California peninsula and mainland Mexico,” according to the update. “Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”

Preparations to protect life and property should have been completed by now, NHC said. Baja California has seven ports, according to information compiled by Bloomberg. There’s also an operational liquefied natural gas terminal that’s outside the range of the hurricane’s trajectory.

Countries including the U.K. and Canada warned against travel to Mexico amid dangerous weather. At least 38 people died in mudslides and floods caused by Tropical Storm Earl last month, the U.K. warning said.

Newton is the second hurricane within a week. Hermine became the first hurricane to strike Florida since 2005 on Friday. It damaged crops and property before weakening and moving up the U.S. East Coast.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Flood Hurricane Mexico