Hurricane Trudy reaches Category 3 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast

Hurricane Trudy strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane on Friday and is expected to approach Mexico’s Pacific coast this weekend, with forecasters warning of dangerous rainfall, flooding and landslides.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Trudy had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and was moving north-northwest at about 5 mph (8 km/h). As of Friday morning, its center was approximately 235 miles (380 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco and 325 miles (525 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo.

The hurricane had a minimum central pressure of 956 millibars. The NHC said additional strengthening was expected through Saturday, with Trudy forecast to remain a major hurricane as it makes its closest approach to Mexico.

A hurricane warning is in effect for portions of Mexico’s Pacific coast, while authorities are closely monitoring the storm as it moves toward the southwestern and west-central coast.

The latest forecast indicates that Trudy could pass very close to the coast late Saturday. Reuters reported that the storm could come within roughly 60 to 65 kilometers of the coasts of Jalisco and Colima, although a direct landfall was not currently expected.