Hurricane Rachel strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific Coast

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Rachel has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.The storm, located about 245 miles (390 kilometers) off the southern tip of Baja California, is slowly continuing westward and expected to strengthen in the next day before weakening this weekend.Rachel’s swells are expected to generate life-threatening surf off Mexico’s coast, the NHC warned.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.MEXICO CITY (AP) — Another storm strengthened into a Category 2 cyclone off Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday at the same time northern Mexico and parts of the U.S. Southwest were reeling from flooding and damage from the remnants of Hurricane Polo earlier this week.Hurricane Rachel was located about 230 miles (370 kilometers) off the southern tip of Baja California on Thursday, chugging forward at 6 mph (9 kph) as a powerful hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center reported winds of 105 mph (165 kph).Rachel was projected to move along the Mexican coastline before veering west in the Pacific.Mexican authorities said Thursday that they remain on alert because of forecasts of very heavy rain in the states of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Jalisco, and the possibility of landslides, rising river levels, overflowing rivers and flooding in low-lying areas.On Wednesday night, the U.S. citizens in Cabos San Lucas, a popular vacation destination for Americans, of beach and port closures and deadly rip currents.The Pacific has seen an unusually busy hurricane season, which experts have attributed to El Niño, which has fueled crippling droughts in Mexico and Central America and floods in other parts of the region. In the Pacific, it has resulted in warmer waters and wind patterns that act as fodder for hurricanes.

Tropical Storm Nolo continued its northwest approach away from Hawaii on Thursday, though the National Weather Service said it could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.Storm remnants drench central U.S.Parts of Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa were still under flood watch Thursday afternoon as storm remnants continued to batter the region, flooding streets and neighborhoods and setting off water rescues.Wednesday was the wettest day on record for Lincoln, Nebraska, which received 6.1 inches of… MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Rachel strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific Coast. MEXICO CITY (AP) — Another storm strengthened into a Category 2 cyclone off Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday at the same time northern Mexico and parts of the U.S.

Some floodwaters reached depths of 8 feet. Schools remained open but many buses never made it out of flooded parking lots, prompting officials to ask parents to transport their students to school.More than 20,000 residents in Texas were without power Thursday afternoon, … In Omaha, which received 4.7 inches of rain Wednesday, the fire department said it responded to 80 water rescues over a three-hour period ending early Thursday.

Some floodwaters reached depths of 8 feet.In Chicago, a wastewater treatment and stormwater management utility urged residents to conserve water use to prevent flooding and st…