Dolores to Become a Major Hurricane Offshore of Mexico

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

July 13,2015; 11:32PM,EDT

 

 

Dolores is set to strengthen into a major hurricane through midweek. While southwestern Mexico will escape the worst of the storm, residents and visitors cannot let their guard down.
Fueled by the warm waters west of Mexico, Dolores has strengthened into a hurricane in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Further strengthening is expected, and Dolores is expected to become a major hurricane by midweek.
Wind and rain will increase as Dolores strengthens, but its fury will bypass Mexico as Dolores maintains a westward track into the open waters of the eastern Pacific.

However, enough moisture is wrapping around Dolores for its outermost rain bands to graze the southwestern Mexican coast.
Rainfall amounts will total 1 to 3 inches, threatening to cause localized flash flooding and mudslides.
"The most widespread activity will occur on Monday," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister, "with spottier showers and thunderstorms through midweek as Dolores pulls away."
RELATED:
AccuWeather Hurricane Center
Latest Statistics on Dolores
Mexico Weather Center
Sustained winds of 65 to 80 kph (40 to 50 mph) may even graze the coastline near Manzanillo through Monday evening, potentially causing some tree damage and sporadic power outages.
After Monday, the storminess will gradually diminish along the southwestern Mexico coast in an east-to-west fashion through midweek. Drenching and gusty showers will then brush the southern tip of Baja California, including Cabo San Lucas, later in the week.
This animated satellite image of Dolores is courtesy of NOAA.
The greatest threat from Dolores to the southwestern coast of Mexico and the southern Baja California Peninsula, however, is the dangerous surf that is building and will persist through much of this week.
Shipping and cruise lines will be impacted, while the surf and accompanying rip currents will prove life-threatening to anyone who attempts to enter the water. This includes at the resort cities of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Conditions will gradually improve this weekend along the southwestern coast of Mexico, but swells and sea could build along the northern coast of the Baja California Peninsula and Southern California.