Tropical Storm Lorena formed south of Baja California on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Tropical Storm Lorena continued to strengthen Tuesday night just south of the Baja California Peninsula, according to forecasters, who are warning it could become a hurricane in the next few hours.
The storm, which formed early Tuesday, was located about 155 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. MST update.
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was moving northwest at 14 mph, it said.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for the west coast of Baja California from Cabo San Lucas north to Cabo San Lazaro.
“On the forecast track, the center of Lorena is expected to move parallel to the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula on Wednesday and Thursday and then could approach the coast on Friday,” the NHC said.
Baja California is expected to be inundated with rain from Lorena starting Wednesday, with storms potentially persisting through Friday, producing between 5 and 10 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 15 inches, according to the NHC.
Heavy rainfall concerns across Arizona will begin late Wednesday through Friday, it said, which could cause flash flooding in areas of the state.
Lorena, the 12th named storm in the Eastern North Pacific this year, formed as Hurricane Kiko continued to strengthen over the Pacific Ocean.
