Rachel strengthens as Mexico puts southwest coast under storm watch
Tropical Depression 18-E strengthened into Tropical Storm Rachel south of Mexico on September 27. Mexico then issued a tropical storm watch from Punta San Telmo to Playa Pérula. The watch means storm conditions are possible within 48 hours; it does not report or forecast landfall. The US National Hurricane Center expects the core to remain offshore while warning that swells could bring dangerous surf and rip currents to parts of the coast.
Science··Midday
Eighteen-E becomes Rachel
A disturbance south of Mexico developed into Tropical Depression 18-E on September 27, then strengthened into Tropical Storm Rachel later that day. The National Hurricane Center estimated sustained winds at 40 mph, about 65 km/h, when it named the storm. Mexican outlet N+ also reported the upgrade. The centre was then about 485 km south of Acapulco. At that stage no coastal watch was in effect, and the projected track kept the core offshore. The upgrade itself did not mean the storm had struck Mexico.[1], [2]
Mexico issues a coastal watch
By the National Hurricane Center’s next advisory, Mexico had issued a tropical storm watch from Punta San Telmo to Playa Pérula. ANews separately reported that coastal decision. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the specified area within 48 hours; it is a precaution tied to the forecast, not an observation that those winds have arrived. The advisory still placed Rachel offshore, about 445 km south of Acapulco, with sustained winds estimated at 65 km/h. The watch therefore changes coastal preparedness even without a forecast landfall of the storm’s centre.[1], [3]
The coast faces a forecast hazard
The Hurricane Center expects Rachel’s core to stay south of the coast, but warned that swells over the coming days could produce dangerous surf and rip currents along parts of southern Mexico. It also forecast possible further strengthening; a hurricane on Tuesday was a prediction, not the storm’s observed status at the frozen edition time. The watch is thus about possible coastal conditions, not a landfall announcement. The N+ upgrade report and ANews watch report cover successive steps of the same cyclone rather than separate storms.[1], [2], [3]
