PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – The latest report from the National Water Commission (Conagua) indicates that Tropical Storm Lidia was located 660 kilometers west-southwest of the port of Manzanillo, Colima, and 800 kilometers south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Despite its distance from the mainland, the storm has initiated weather changes expected to impact several Mexican states.
As of the last available data, Lidia has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching 100 kilometers per hour. The storm is moving northwest at a pace of 7 kilometers per hour. According to the latest forecast, Lidia is expected to maintain its status as a tropical storm.
The storm’s trajectory will bring “punctually heavy” rainfall to Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán. Additionally, intervals of showers are forecasted for Baja California Sur. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) states that “the subtropical jet stream favors the release of cloud cover from the tropical cyclone and transports it to the northwest and west of Mexico, reinforcing the potential for rain in these regions.”
Authorities urge residents and maritime operators in the affected states to take extreme precautions. This advisory includes following the guidelines and recommendations issued by the National Civil Protection System, particularly concerning rain, wind, and sea conditions. Although the storm is not projected to make landfall, it “continues to move slowly south of Baja California Sur,” according to the official notice.
Lidia is the twelfth named cyclone to form in the Pacific this season. Previous storms include Adrian, Beatriz, Calvin, Dora, Eugene, Fernanda, Greg, Hilary, Irwin, Jova, and Kenneth. Among these, Hilary proved the most damaging, causing four fatalities in August in Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sinaloa.
The Government of Mexico had forecasted earlier in May that up to 38 named cyclones could form during the 2023 season, with five predicted to impact the country directly. Of this total, between 16 and 22 systems could emerge in the Pacific Ocean, while 10 to 16 could form in the Atlantic.
For continued updates on Tropical Storm Lidia and its projected impact, residents are advised to stay tuned to weather reports and advisories issued by government agencies.
