Tropical Storm Lester to threaten Mexico's southwestern coast with heavy rain, gusty winds this weekend
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Tropical Storm Lester is expected to move near or over the coast of southwestern Mexico on Saturday or Saturday night.
Tracking Tropical Storm Lester in the Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Lester is expected make landfall along the Mexican coast on Saturday.
Tropical Storm Lester formed Friday morning in the Eastern Pacific, prompting Tropical Storm Warnings to be issued along the southwestern coast of Mexico.
Heavy rain and gusty winds from Tropical Storm Lester are expected to spread toward the Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico through the weekend.
Tropical Storm Lester had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as of Friday evening.
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Where is Tropical Storm Lester?
Tropical Storm Lester is centered less than 300 miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico.
A tropical storm is a cyclone that has maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph. Once a tropical storm forms, the National Hurricane Center gives it a name off one of six rotating lists.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? TROPICAL DEPRESSION VS. TROPICAL STORM VS. HURRICANE
(FOX Weather)
Where are watches and warnings in effect?
The government of Mexico has upgraded the previous Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning from Punta Maldonado westward to Zihuatanejo.
Beginning early Saturday, tropical-storm-force winds (at least 39 mph) are expected in the warning areas.
WHAT TO DO WHEN HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR TOWN
A Tropical Storm Warning means sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are expected within the next 36 hours.
What is the forecast for Tropical Storm Lester?
(FOX Weather)
Tropical Storm Lester is forecast to gradually strengthen as it moves northwestward through the weekend.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Lester is expected to move near or over the coast of southwestern Mexico on Saturday or Saturday night. Heavy rain and gusty winds will be the main impacts from Tropical Storm Lester in southwestern Mexico.
WHAT IS THE CONE OF UNCERTAINTY IN HURRICANE FORECASTS?
Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 10 inches, are predicted across coastal portions of the Mexican states of western Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco through Monday.
Flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher coastal terrain, are likely because of the heavy rain.
Rapid weakening is expected after the center of Tropical Storm Lester crosses the coast of southwestern Mexico, but heavy rain will remain a threat regardless of the storm's intensity.
Lester is forecast to dissipate over southwestern Mexico on Sunday.