Hurricane Bud strengthened to category 4 overnight but is expected to weaken later today, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) said this morning.

Nevertheless, the National Meteorological Service is forecasting torrential storm conditions for Michoacán and coastal and southern areas of Jalisco and Colima. Wind gusts up to 60-80 kilometers per hour are predicted and wave heights of three to five meters.

The NHC said Bud was about 365 kilometers southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, and 560 kilometers south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, at 4:00am. Maximum sustained winds were 215 kilometers per hour.

Forecasters warned that citizens in Baja California Sur should monitor the hurricane’s progress. On its forecast track, Bud will be near the southern coast of the state on Thursday.

A weakening trend is expected to begin later today and the storm should be below hurricane intensity by Wednesday night, the NHC said.

The Weather Channel said predicted it would be a tropical storm when it arrives in Baja California Sur.

Mexico News Daily