DOUBLE WHAMMY!: Hurricanes hit Los Cabos, Barbuda

Hurricane Norma came ashore near the Pacific resort of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula on Saturday afternoon. Hours later, Hurricane Tammy made landfall on the Caribbean island of Barbuda. The storms were each Category 1 hurricanes when they hit.

Norma strengthened slightly and dumped heavy rain after being downgraded to a tropical storm Sunday as it moved into mainland Mexico, while Hurricane Tammy left the Caribbean island of Barbuda with minor damage.

In Mexico, tens of thousands were left without power as Norma’s gusts continued to cause damage as the storm moved northeast, crossing the Gulf of California toward the Mexico mainland’s Sinaloa state, where schools were ordered closed Monday. Shelters were set up in Sinaloa and neighboring Sonora with capacity for nearly 13,000 people.

The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Sunday evening that Norma was about 195 km west of Culiacan, and about 105 km south-southwest of Los Mochis. The storm regained a bit of strength as it moved northeastward across the Gulf of California with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph.

Up to 45 cm of rain could fall in some areas Monday, forecasters warned. “These rains will produce flash and urban flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain,” the hurricane centre said.

In Los Cabos, fallen trees blocked some streets. But with no major damage, tourists began to emerge.

But to the north, there was no flying out of La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. It was hit with so much rain that the airport remained closed. Streams of water with logs, dirt and garbage crossed many of the highways so many entrances to the city were blocked. Elements of the security forces made rounds looking for people in need of help.

In the city’s bay, 400 people remained on a ferry that was transporting them from Sinaloa to Baja California Sur and was caught in the storm. They have not been able to get off the ferry because the port is still closed, said Santiago Jorge Morgado, commander of the Fourth Naval Region in La Paz.

Baja California Sur authorities had not reported any fatalities, but said an Argentine tourist was injured. The main damage was to boats, three of which sank, Morgado said.

The Mexican navy said it has 5.000 marines deployed to attend the states affected by Norma with ships, helicopters, trucks, food, water and first aid.

Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda escaped with no reported injuries from Hurricane Tammy. A late and sudden shift spared the Antigua from a direct hit, but left the sister island in line for the system’s full force during the late night hours Saturday.

“To the best of my knowledge, there has been no significant damage. At least we got some rain. It may not be a lot but much needed rain,” a relieved Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.

The hurricane made landfall on tiny Barbuda at approximately 9:15 p.m. Saturday, bringing heavy rain and winds as high as 148 kph. The storm knocked down some power lines, triggered an island-wide blackout and caused minor damage to a few homes. However, no major infrastructural damage was reported.

Antigua fared much better, with only a few broken branches and broken utility lines reported.

Tammy hit two weeks after Tropical Storm Phillippe swept by Antigua and Barbuda dumping 150 to 200 mm of rain and plunging both islands into darkness. The slow-moving system was forecast to bring up to 300 mm over the twin island nation, where the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Philippe’s recent wind damage and flooding were still fresh memories.

Government offices, banks and most non-retail businesses closed early on Friday to allow staff to prepare. Residents rushed to stock up on necessities, causing gridlock throughout the capital, St John’s on Antigua.