Tropical Storm Ileana impacts Mexico's Pacific coastline as moisture winds up in Southwest, Texas
The tropical cyclone was the first system to directly impact the Mexican coastline since Hurricane Otis’ historic wrath in 2023.
Tropical Storm Ileana brings torrential rains to western Mexico coastline
After bringing some hours of heavy rains and blustery winds to the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas Friday afternoon, the tropical storm is expected to continue to crawl northward through the Gulf of California.
The National Hurricane Center tracked Tropical Storm Ileana around Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, which became the first cyclone to directly impact the coastline during the 2024 season.
After bringing hours of heavy rains and blustery winds to the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas Friday afternoon, the tropical storm continued to crawl northward through the Gulf of California.
(FOX Weather)
Before the storm's impact, forecast models showed 4-8 inches of rain were possible across the Baja, with similar amounts impacting the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
Tropical rainfall events in the region are known to produce mudslides and landslides.
Additionally, the threat for rip currents was high due to the increased swells, which was a concern for swimmers.
(FOX Weather)
First tropical cyclone to hit Mexico coastline since Hurricane Otis
The tropical cyclone was the first system to directly impact the Mexican coastline since Hurricane Otis’ historic wrath in 2023.
In late October, conditions allowed the hurricane to rapidly strengthen into a Category 5 before making landfall near Acapulco.
Many along the Mexican coastline were caught off guard by the cyclone’s rapid strengthening, which killed dozens and caused an estimated $15 billion in damage.
HURRICANE OTIS MAKES HISTORIC CATEGORY 5 LANDFALL IN MEXICO NEAR ACAPULCO
A graphic showing what made Hurricane Otis' landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, historic.
(FOX Weather)
The areas impacted by Otis did not see direct effects from Ileana, as the tropical storm was hundreds of miles to the region’s northwest.
Limited moisture winds over Texas, Desert Southwest
Moisture from the remnants of the storm wound up over the southwestern U.S., which helped to increase rain chances and help decrease temperatures.
The influx of moisture was limited, but the increased precipitation chances are welcome news for a region that experienced a lackluster monsoon season.
SOUTHWEST MONSOON SEASON IS HERE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Phoenix, which set a record for the most 100-degree days in a row during its hottest summer on record, is one of the many locales that would welcome an increased chance of precipitation.
Temperatures are expected to be held down closer to 90 degrees, which is both a significant departure from recent months and well below average for mid-September.