Tropical Storm Sonia Update: Storm Weakens to Tropical Depression, Expected to Drop 10+ Inches of Rain in Spots
The National Hurricane Center downgraded Tropical Storm Sonia to a tropical depression as it made landfall on Mexico's pacific coast, but the system is still expected to bring heavy rainfall to a region that has already seen record flooding.
Meteorologists stated the center of the system reached the coast of Sinaloa near the city of El Dorado early on Monday with maximum sustained winds around 35 mph. The storm is expected to further weaken but not before dropping several inches of rain in the region.
Despite the weakening storm heavy rains are expected in Sinaloa, western Durango and southern Chihuahua, the center said.
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The hurricane center said the storm could produce up to 6 inches of rainfall in Sinaloa and Durango states, with isolated areas getting as much as 10 inches. These rains could produce flooding and mudslides, according to a warning issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Local reports stated that the government of Sinaloa state had closed schools in five municipalities in the storm's path and sixty shelters were opened in case people were forced from their homes.
In the resort town of Los Cabos in Baja California, officials opened a shelter for possible evacuees and said the port had been closed to small craft.
According to NHC, the hurricane season in the Atlantic starts June 1 and ends five months later on Nov. 30. For the Eastern Pacific, hurricane season lasts longer, beginning on May 15 and ends six months after on Nov. 30 as well.
This year has been particular quite for the Western pacific in terms of named storms, but it has been a relatively active season in the Eastern Pacific, with 12 named storms so far this season. On average, there are only three Eastern Pacific hurricanes by the first week of August, with hurricane season running until Nov. 1.
