Hurricane Trudy looms over Mexico’s Pacific coast as it strengthens into huge storm

Hurricane Trudy has strengthened into a Category 1 storm as it edges toward Mexico’s Pacific coastline, officials reported on Thursday.Data from the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami placed the storm roughly 300 miles (480 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, recording maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).Traveling northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), the storm is projected to draw near the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico this weekend, according to forecasters.Forecasters added that Trudy is anticipated to intensify into a major hurricane on Friday, bringing 4 to 8 inches (101 to 203 millimeters) of rainfall across Colima and Jalisco states through the weekend.Through the weekend, Trudy is expected to produce 4-8 inches of rainfall, with isolated totals around 12 inches across the southwestern Mexican states of Colima and Jalisco. Forecasters warned residents to be prepared for the rain to produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas along steep terrain.(Reuters)Swells generated by Trudy are expected to begin affecting portions of the coast of southwestern Mexican over the next day or so, with the swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.Earlier this month, Hurricane Rachel has intensified into a Category 3 system off Mexico's Pacific coast, hitting the region just as parts of the US Southwest and northern Mexico recover from widespread damage and severe flooding triggered by the remnants of Hurricane Polo the week before. Parts of northern Mexico were still reeling from floods and wider destruction left by Polo when Rachel hit. Hundreds of people remained displaced or had their homes destroyed, and at least 13 municipalities remained flooded for days, according to local authorities.