Category 4 hurricane heads toward Baja Peninsula, prompting U.S. evacuation warnings

A powerful Category 4 hurricane, carrying winds of 150 mph, is moving toward Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and is expected to arrive by Saturday or Sunday. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned that, regardless of landfall, the storm could generate severe rain, flooding, mudslides, and dangerous ocean conditions such as rip currents and rogue waves. Americans in the region, especially those in Cabo San Lucas—a major U.S. tourist destination—were advised to heed local warnings, avoid beaches, and monitor official updates as travel routes and flights may be impacted.

The storm is also forecast to influence Southern California, bringing hazardous surf, strong rip currents, and increased tropical humidity. This comes amid ongoing concerns about a historic El Niño season, with Governor Gavin Newsom having declared a statewide emergency to prepare infrastructure and communities for potential winter weather impacts.