June 11 (UPI) — Hurricane Bud began to move away from Mexico’s southwest coast, forecasters said Monday.
Bud’s core and strong winds were expected to move away from the southwestern coast of mainland Mexico, while rain bands linger near the coast, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. advisory. Its center was located about 260 miles south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes and 440 miles south-southeast of the tip of Baja California.
Bud has 120 mph maximum sustained winds and was moving northwest at 7 mph, the NHC said.
At Category 3, Bud was classified as a major hurricane.
“Some additional strengthening is possible today, but a slow weakening trend is expected to begin
on Tuesday,” the NHC said.
The Mexican government discontinued the tropical storm watch for Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, the NHC said.
Hurricane Bud is expected to deliver 3 inches to 6 inches of rain to much of southwestern Mexico, and up to 10 inches in isolated pockets.
The rain could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, forecasters said.
“Swells generated by Bud will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next few days,” the NHC said. “These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
Bud is the second major hurricane to develop in the eastern Pacific this year, following Hurricane Aletta last week. Aletta weakened to a tropical storm over the weekend.