Tropical Storm Pamela makes landfall in Mexico

Storm is picking up strength in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico

Tropical Storm Pamela in the Pacific. Image loop via University of Wisconsin-Madison https://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/.

Hurricane Pamela made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast just north of Mazatlan Wednesday, bringing high winds and rain to the port city.

Pamela regained hurricane strength just before it hit the coast 65 kilometres north of Mazatlan, which also serves as a resort for Mexican tourists.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Pamela had maximum winds of about 120 kph at landfall, though it is expected to quickly weaken as it moves inland.

Pamela was forecast to pass well to the south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula during the night while accelerating towards the coast and regaining wind strength.

The hurricane centre warned of the possibility of life-threatening storm surges, flash floods and dangerous winds around the impact area.

Pamela was then forecast to weaken while crossing over northern Mexico and could approach the Texas border as a tropical depression by Thursday.

Remnants of the storm could carry heavy rain to central Texas and south-east Oklahoma, the centre said.