MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Bud weakened slightly and was once again a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, as forecasters said they expected cooler waters to rob most of its punch before a potential collision with resorts on the southern Baja California Peninsula.
MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Bud weakened slightly and was once again a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, as forecasters said they expected cooler waters to rob most of its punch before a potential collision with resorts on the southern Baja California Peninsula.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and was centered about 325 miles (525 kilometers) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula’s southern tip.
Earlier it had just barely crossed the threshold of wind strength to be classified a Category 4 storm.
Bud was moving toward the north-northwest at about 6 mph (9 kph) and was forecast to approach Baja California Sur on Thursday as a tropical storm.
“Further weakening, possibly rapid at times, is expected during the next 48 hours, and Bud is forecast to weaken below hurricane intensity by Wednesday night,” the center said.
The center said the hurricane still could generate dangerous surf and rip currents over the coming days, with heavy swells reaching the peninsula later Tuesday.
Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches (75 to 150 millimeters), with isolated patches of 10 inches (250 millimeters), was possible over much of the region.
The twin resort cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are popular destinations for international and domestic travelers, receiving millions of tourists annually.
