Hurricane Trudy becomes major Category 3 storm near Mexico's Pacific Coast

The emergence of Hurricane Trudy has escalated into a powerful Category 3 storm, targeting Mexico's Pacific coastline with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 mph.

Hurricane Trudy intensified into a major Category 3 storm, with forecasters warning that it was moving towards southwestern and west-central parts of Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Early Friday, Trudy was located around 250 miles (400 kilometres) southwest of Acapulco and approximately 355 miles (570 kilometres) south-southeast of Manzanillo, according to the US National hurricane center in Miami. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) and was moving northwest at 6 mph (9 kph), the centre reported.

According to AP, a hurricane warning was issued for the Mexican coast stretching from Cabo Corrientes northwards to Punta San Telmo. A tropical storm warning was also in force for the coastal stretch from Zihuatanejo northwards to Manzanillo. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Simon, located northwest of Trudy, was packing winds of 45 mph (75 kph). Forecasters expected the system to weaken into a remnant low soon.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Champi was situated east of Guam on Friday and moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). Its maximum sustained winds had strengthened to 52 mph (86 kph), according to the US weather service and the US Navy’s meteorology and oceanography command website. Authorities issued a typhoon warning for Guam and Rota, alongside a tropical storm warning covering Tinian, Saipan and nearby areas.