Tropical Storm Lidia to further lash Mexico's Baja California into Saturday night

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

September 2,2017, 11:41:31AM,EDT

 

 Tropical Storm Lidia will continue to barrel across Mexico's Baja California Peninsula with flooding rain and damaging winds into Saturday night. Flooding rain will also inundate western mainland Mexico.

After developing on Wednesday afternoon, Lidia strengthened into a strong tropical storm on Thursday and remained just shy of hurricane intensity as it grazed the southern tip of Baja California Sur into Thursday night. Wind gusts of 110-130 km/h (70-80 mph) whipped central Baja California Sur on Friday.
About 1,400 people sought refuge ahead of Lidia in shelters at the Los Cabos resorts, according to CBS News.
Lidia will continue to ride up the western coast of Baja California Sur through Saturday night, gradually weakening. However, flooding rain and damaging winds will continue to spread northward across the peninsula.
Heavy rain and gusty winds will also sweep in a similar fashion across western Sonora during this time.

Gusts of 65-95 km/h (40-60 mph) will impact Baja California and western Sonora through Saturday night.
These strong winds can result in sporadic power outages, tree damage and minor damage to structures.
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Flash flooding will be the most widespread threat; however, there will also be a high risk for mudslides.
"Rainfall amounts of 125-250 mm (5-10 inches) will be common across the northern Baja California Sur with locally higher totals," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said. Similar totals will graze coastal northern Sinaloa, coastal Sonora and Baja California.
Residents and vacationers should prepare for rising water, road closures and possible evacuations in flood-prone areas.

Rough seas will build in the northern Gulf of California and at the Pacific beaches of Baja California as well.
At this point, the majority of Lidia's flooding rain and winds capable of causing sporadic wind damage and power outages will be focused the central to northern Baja California Peninsula.
Enough moisture may still spread northward to bring enhanced showers and thunderstorms to northern Baja California and even Southern California this weekend.
By Sunday, Lidia will curve over the cool waters offshore of Baja California and eventually dissipate early next week.