Hurricane Rachel strengthens to Category 1 off Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Rachel strengthened to Category 1 early Wednesday off Mexico's Pacific coast, according to the National Civil Protection Coordination.

“Rachel evolved into a Category 1 hurricane at 00:00,” the agency said in a post on the US social media platform X, as the storm continued moving offshore.

Rachel was located 365 kilometers (227 miles) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, a coastal area in the western state of Jalisco, and 495 kilometers west of Lazaro Cardenas, a port city on the Pacific coast of southwestern Michoacan.

The hurricane was moving northwest at 19 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour), with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 150 kph, said the agency.

The system was expected to maintain a northwestward trajectory and gradually move farther from the Pacific coast, according to the National Civil Protection Coordination.

Authorities were monitoring the storm as it moved parallel to the country's Pacific coastline, with its projected path expected to keep it offshore.

The National Civil Protection Coordination urged authorities and residents to remain attentive to updates on Rachel's development and movement.

The storm's strengthening comes during Mexico's Pacific hurricane season, which runs from May through November and regularly brings tropical storms and hurricanes to the western coastline.

Authorities have continued to monitor Rachel's location, intensity and projected trajectory to assess any potential effects on coastal areas.

Based on its current trajectory, Rachel was not expected to make landfall in Mexico, according to information released by the National Civil Protection Coordination.

The agency advised residents in potentially affected areas to follow weather updates, as the conditions and trajectory of tropical systems can change as they develop.

Rachel's development will continue to be monitored as the hurricane moves northwest over the Pacific, with authorities expected to issue updates on its strength and trajectory.