Narda regains tropical storm force off Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Narda, a soaking storm crawling up Mexico’s west coast, regained tropical storm strength Monday after passing over the Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta with heavy rains.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says that with Narda back over water, its maximum sustained winds increased to 40 mph (65 kph) as it heads for the Gulf of California.

It was heading to the northwest at 15 mph (24 kph) and was predicted to slow as it slogs northwest. It could weaken again Tuesday as it scrapes along Mexico’s western mountains.

Authorities reported flooded roads and rivers, and the storm also toppled trees and billboards in Acapulco. Local media reported that a 26-year-old man died in Oaxaca state while trying to cross a river in San Pedro Mixtepec.

The Hurricane Center said Narda could continue to drop 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 centimetres) of rain along the coast as far north as Sinaloa state, with isolated totals of 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimetres. It warned that life-threatening flash floods and mudslides were possible, especially in mountainous terrain. It said Baja California Sure state could get from 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 centimetres) through Monday night.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Lorenzo weakened to Category 2 force in the central Atlantic Ocean after earlier hitting Category 5, which made it the strongest storm ever observed so far north and east in the Atlantic basin.

The Hurricane Center said that the storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) Monday. It was moving north-northeast at 15 mph (24 kph) and was centred about 1,050 miles (1,685 kilometres) west-southwest of the Azores, a Portuguese island chain.

Portuguese authorities issued a hurricane warning for the central and western Azores and a tropical storm watch for the eastern Azores.

The Associated Press