Kay Weakens While Drenching West Baja California Coast

Tropical Storm Kay will gradually weaken as it moves northwestward from the Baja California coast today. It will still bring impacts to southern California and the Southwest as the heavy rains and flooding ongoing in Mexico are anticipated to spread into Southern California and Arizona later today.

As of 11 a.m. PDT, Tropical Storm Kay was located near 30.7 N and 117.2 W, or about 95 miles west-northwest of Punta Baja, Mexico, and about 140 miles south of San Diego. Kay has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It is currently moving north-northwest at 13 mph and has a minimum central pressure was 992 mb, or 29.29 inches of mercury. 

There is a Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Punta Eugenia northward along the west coast of the Baja California peninsula to the U.S. and Mexico border and from Bahia de Los Angeles northward along the east coast of the Baja California peninsula and then southward to Puerto Libertad in mainland Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. 

Kay is forecast to gradually weaken as it heads to the northwest today and then more to the west tomorrow. By late Saturday, Kay will likely become a Depression and then meander well to the west of Mexico and southwest of the California coast.

Tropical storm-force winds will occur over the norhtern Baja California peninsula today. Rough surf conditions and rip currents are also expected for southwestern Mexico and for the Baja California peninsula and the Gulf of California today. 

Heavy rainfall is likely to continue as Kay travels across the Baja California peninsula and into western Mexico tonight, before spreading into southern California and the Southwest today through the weekend. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are possible across Baja California, with isolated amounts up to 12 inches. Two to 4 inches will be common for northwest mainland Mexico and southernmost portions of California, with isolated amounts up to 6 inches. In southwestern Arizona, rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches could fall. Flooding is likely with a risk of landslides in some areas. 

Be sure to check your local weather radio, television or the WeatherBug website and app for future updates.