A motorcyclist rides on a waterlogged street as tropical storm Flossie moves along the Pacific coast, in Acapulco, Mexico, on Sunday.Javier Verdin/Reuters
Hurricane Flossie strengthened to a Category 2 cyclone Tuesday off the Pacific coast of Mexico and could become a major hurricane before weakening later this week, forecasters said.
The National Hurricane Center said Flossie had maximum sustained winds at 175 k/h and that rain was falling over parts of coastal Mexico. The hurricane was centred 290 kilometres west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. On Tuesday afternoon, it was on the brink of becoming a Category 3 hurricane.
The hurricane was forecast to continue strengthening and could be a major hurricane as soon as Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. A major hurricane is classified as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 180 k/h.
This satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Flossie on Monday.The Associated Press
Flossie was moving to the northwest at 11 k/h and was expected to generally continue that motion over the next few days. The system should move away from southwestern Mexico by Tuesday night, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. Rainfall totals up to 15 centimetres were possible in some areas, the hurricane centre said.
Forecasters expect Flossie to weaken starting late Wednesday.