Jimena weakens a little more but remains at category four strength. At 8 a.m. today, the center of Hurricane Jimena, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, was 140 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and churning toward the Baja California peninsula at about 12 mph. The accompanying image was captured just after 8 a.m. from the area of the old lighthouse at Cabo Falso on the Pacific side of the peninsula north of Cabo San Lucas. Rain comes and goes and wave heights are steadily increasing. Cabo San Lucas is no longer in the projected path of the hurricane. Also saved from the dangerous path of Jimena are the towns and fishing resorts along the Sea of Cortez leading inward around the Southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, toward the B.C.S capital city of  La Paz.
The center of the storm is predicted to brush Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side early Wednesday and make landfall north of that port city later in the day.
The Mexican government has extended a hurricane warning northward on the Pacific side of the peninsula from Cabo San Lucas to Punta Abreojos, and along the gulf side to Loreto respective Mulege. Rainfall is expected to total between 5 to 10 inches in most areas and possibly 15 inches in isolated areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Jimena has subtly changed course a few times over the past few days. Outposts will provide updates as warranted. At 1100 am PDT/1800 UTC the center of Hurricane Jimena was
located near latitude 21.5 north/longitude 111.0 west or about 110 miles/175 km southwest of Cabo San Lucas Mexico and about 240 miles 385 km south-southeast of Cabo San Lazaro
Mexico.

Jimena is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph/19 km/hr…and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. On the forecast track Jimena will be
approaching the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula later today and tonight and approach the central Baja California peninsula by Thursday.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that Jimena has weakened a little more. Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph/215 km/hr…with higher gusts. Jimena is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely today…and gradual weakening is forecast on Wednesday. However Jimena is expected to remain a major hurricane until landfall. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles/75 km from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles/220 km.
The last minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunter is 948 mb 27.99 inches.

A dangerous storm surge along with battering waves will produce significant coastal flooding along the Baja California peninsula.
In La Paz, around 13:00 hr – you can check the time on the photos – there is now a steady rainfall, at least in the area we are located in (Fidepaz). We did not observe during our La Paz errands and observation rounds any extensive lines at the Pemex gas stations or elevated public in the major stores. Many businesses have windows boarded up and sandbags strategically placed at various points.

Some of the smaller tiendas have run out of pan (bread). This was the only experience out of the usual. PanBimbo supposedly will deliver more in 2 hours just in case this  is of importance for you!! At our tortelleria there was a fila (line) for fresh tortillas de maiz!

There are more than usual public service vehicles around, in particular police and health agency trucks and cars.  Side streets are difficult to navigate, water puddles are everywhere. One can say: the usual when it rains here. The sky is grey and one can observe it getting darker.

No related posts.

Fall 2010 coming to La Paz: 43rd SCORE Tecate Baja 1000.

More about La Paz BCS: baja california peninsula, hurricane jimena, La Paz, national hurricane center, san lucas mexico, Sea of Cortez