Hurricane Trudy Lashes Mexico's Pacific Coast

Hurricane Trudy intensified to a category 2 storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 100mph, as it tracked towards Mexico's southwestern and west-central Pacific coast. A hurricane warning is in effect for a significant stretch of coastline, from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The storm is expected to approach the Mexican coast on Saturday and pass near it into Sunday.

Mexican authorities have advised mariners and coastal communities to be extremely cautious, anticipating high waves, torrential rain, and potential flooding and landslides. Colima authorities noted that saturated ground from previous storms increases the risk of damage from Trudy's projected rainfall of 4-8 inches, with isolated totals up to 15 inches.

Separately, Typhoon Champi strengthened into a powerful category 4 storm, moving west towards Guam at 15mph with sustained winds of 140mph. Guam and Rota are under a typhoon warning. Governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have requested emergency disaster declarations, which would authorize federal support for recovery efforts as the territories are still dealing with the aftermath of previous super typhoons.