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AFP - Tropical Storm Patricia formed in the Pacific and churned toward Mexico's Baja Peninsula, where local authorities announced plans to partially evacuate a beach resort as a precaution.

The storm could lash the peninsula's southern end, and Mexican authorities have warned it could cause flooding and other damage, said the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

"A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Santa Fe," the NHC said, adding that the storm would be "very near" the peninsula by Tuesday afternoon.

All schools and port facilities in Los Cabos, a popular tourist venue, were closed down Monday by order of state authorities, and two low-lying neighborhoods were to be evacuated on Tuesday.

"Early tomorrow morning, we'll be evacuating families from the Zacatal and Santa Rosa neighborhoods... because they've been designated high-risk areas, Baja California Civil Protection chief Jose Gajon told a press conference.

He did not say how many people would be affected by the evacuation.

Port facilities in three other coastal towns were also shut down Monday and more could be closed up and down the coast on Tuesday, officials said.

National Water Commission for Southern Baja California manager Celso Castro Sanchez said Patricia could barrel across the southern tip of Baja California by early Wednesday, although "it's not been forecast to become a hurricane."

At 2400 GMT, Patricia was 335 kilometers (210 miles) south of the southern tip of the peninsula churning in at nine kilometers (six miles) per hour.

It packed maximum sustained winds of near 95 kilometers (60 miles) per hour, well under the 119 kilometer (74 mile) per hour threshold for a Category One hurricane.

In September, Hurricane Jimena struck the peninsula, leaving one person dead, and causing widespread flooding and property damage.



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AP - Tropical Storm Patricia headed for a drenching of Mexico's Los Cabos resorts late Tuesday or Wednesday as it neared the tip of the Baja California Peninsula.

The storm had winds of near 60 mph (95 kph) early Monday and slight strengthening was possible, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The winds were not projected to reach hurricane force of 74 mph (118 kph).

The storm was located about 140 miles (225 kilometers) south-southeast of the tourist-heavy tip of the Baja peninsula and it was moving toward the north at near 6 mph (9 kph).

Mexico's government declared a tropical storm warning for the southern portion of the desert peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas.

Forecasters said it could dump 1 to 3 inches (25 to 75 millimeters) of rain on the region.


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