CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — Hurricane Olaf was heading toward a strike on the Los Cabos resort region at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula on Thursday. As the storm approached, authorities closed ports in the area, prepared temporary shelters and urged people to monitor public announcements.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the area could see hurricane-force winds and very heavy rain on Thursday afternoon and into the night.
The ports of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo closed to vessel traffic as tourism operators moved boats at Cabo San Lucas to safer moorings. Businesses boarded up windows.
#Olaf is quickly strengthening and is expected to become a Category 2 Hurricane with 100 mph winds when it nears Cabo San Lucas tonight. #HuracánOlaf pic.twitter.com/qCZarVZFSp
— Zoom Earth (@zoom_earth) September 9, 2021
The resorts would normally be full of tourists, but with the covid-19 pandemic, hotels were only at about one-third of their capacity.
The hurricane was centered about 80 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas early Thursday afternoon with maximum sustained wind of 90 mph. It was advancing to the north-northwest at 10 mph.
What a stunning sight! ???? Check out this self cloud along the northern edge of Hurricane #Olaf near #CaboSanLucas on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California! #Cabo #Mexico #Hurricane
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 9, 2021
Video Credit: @GTWilliamsonEsq pic.twitter.com/d5csQu12S9
The Hurricane Center said Olaf is likely to strengthen as it nears the coast.
Hurricane-force wind extended as far as 35 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds as far as 105 miles.
The hurricane was expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain to the southern part of the peninsula, with up to 15 inches in isolated spots, creating the danger of flash floods and mudslides.
