Hurricane Bud grows to Category 3 storm off Mexico
MEXICO CITY -- Hurricane Bud grew to Category 3 force off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday. Forecasters said it was likely to weaken before a possible brush with the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late in the week.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph at midday Monday. It was centered about 450 miles south-southeast of the tip of the Baja peninsula and was moving northwest at 7 mph.
Forecasters said Bud was expected to strengthen further before a slow weakening trend starts Tuesday.
"Significantly cooler waters around the southern tip of Baja California should reduce Bud's intensity below hurricane status before it reaches that land," the center said.
The hurricane center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico's southwestern coast. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible into Tuesday afternoon.
Tropical Storm Aletta
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta weakened into a tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean far off the Mexican coast and was expected to degenerate further and become a remnant low-pressure system later in the day. The hurricane center said it had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
The storm peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph.