Oct 3, 2022 - World

Orlene downgraded to tropical storm after slamming Mexico's Pacific coastline

Jacob Knutson

People preparing for Hurricane Orlene in Mazatlan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on Oct. 2. — People preparing for Hurricane Orlene in Mazatlán, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on Oct. 2. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images

Hurricane Orlene was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall on Mexico's Pacific coastline Monday morning as a Category 1 storm just north of the Nayarit-Sinaloa state border, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The big picture: The storm was expected to bring dangerous storm surge along the coast of mainland Mexico and heavy rain in the southwest through Tuesday, raising the risk of flash flooding and possible landslides.

It made landfall near Mazatlán, a resort town along the Pacific shoreline in Sinaloa.
Mexico's government discontinued the tropical storm warning for the southwest coast of the country, the NHC said in a 5pm ET update.

The latest: As of 5pm ET, Tropical Storm Orlene was spreading heavy rainfall over inland portions of west-central Mexico with sustained maximum winds of around 35 miles per hour, the NHC said.

It was around 60 miles east of Mazatlán after making landfall around 9:45am ET.

Threat level: Storm surge, or an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, is considered to be the most deadly and destructive aspect of hurricanes.

The surge is the result of water being thrust toward the shoreline by the winds moving cyclonically around the storm and can cause "extreme" flooding in coastal areas, especially when it coincides with high tides.

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Orlene downgraded to tropical storm after slamming Mexico's Pacific coastline

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