MIAMI — Trudy weakened Friday afternoon in its slow movement towards west-central areas of Mexico’s Pacific coast, although some strengthening could occur through Saturday, forecasters said.
It had been reported as Category 3 early Friday, but the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said satellite wind data showed it was weaker than indicated and reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft showed that Trudy has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 85 mph (135 km/h) by Friday afternoon.
Trudy was about 225 miles (360 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, and about 325 miles (525 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima state, while moving northwest slightly slower, at 5 mph (7 kph), the center said.
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A hurricane warning was in effect for Mexico’s coast from Manzanillo, in Colima state, northward to Playa Perula, in Jalisco.
Forecasters said it is expected to move slightly faster during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Trudy will approach the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico on Saturday and pass near the coast Saturday night into Sunday.
To the northwest of Trudy, Tropical Storm Simon is moving northwestward off the coast of South Baja California. It had 40 mph (65 kph) winds and was forecast to keep weakening to a remnant low soon.
Also in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Champi was intensifying and moving west towards Marianas, moving westat 13 mph (20 kph) with maximum sustained winds increasing to 60 mph (96 kph), according to the U.S. Weather Service and the U.S. Navy’s Meteorology and Oceanography Command website.
A typhoon warning was issued for Guam and Rota along with a tropical storm warning for Tinian, Saipan and nearby areas.
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