Hurricane Sergio to swing eastward, deliver more rain to southwestern US in wake of Rosa
The long-range track of Sergio may be such that the hurricane boomerangs back toward the upper west coast of Mexico and delivers more drenching rain in the wake of Rosa.
Sergio is a Category 3 hurricane as of Saturday evening and may hold that intensity through most of the weekend.
"This weekend, Sergio will appear as if it is tracking away from land and impacts will be limited to the shipping industry during its existence," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
This animation shows Hurricane Sergio spinning well off the west coast of Mexico early Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. (NOAA/GOES)
"The storm, however, will reverse course early in the new week and track back toward northwestern Mexico," she said.
Sergio is expected to lose wind intensity as it tracks back toward land, becoming a tropical storm or depression prior to reaching Mexico's Baja Peninsula later this week. Heavy rain, gusty winds and rough surf may accompany Sergio onshore.
Similar to what happened with Rosa, copious amounts of moisture in the form of drenching rain and thunderstorms may then be carried into the southwestern United States late next week.
Such a scenario may renew the risk of flooding in the region but may also provide another round of drought-denting rain.
"Latest indications point toward the downpours of Sergio tracking more to the south and east of where Rosa's heavy rain recently spread," according to Pydynowski. "Tucson, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, may be in line for a thorough soaking."
Including Sergio, there have been nine major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger) and 12 hurricanes overall in the central and eastern Pacific so far this season.
Walaka may help to soak British Columbia, Alaskan Panhandle
The strongest hurricane to date in the central and eastern Pacific, Walaka, with prior maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, became a non-tropical storm over the northern Pacific Ocean on Saturday.
Walaka and its moisture may eventually contribute to another round of soaking rain and interior snow across British Columbia and the Alaskan Panhandle Sunday into Monday.
Some rain and mountain snow may then drop into the northwestern U.S. early next week.
Report a Typo
