Vance weakens to Category 1 but still threatens rain in Michoacán
The hurricane is still at sea, 475 km (295 miles) from Acapulco, with no coastal warnings. Its slow drift will stretch the rain along the Pacific coast.
Hurricane Vance has weakened to Category 1 and remains over open water, but its rain is headed for Mexico's Pacific coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) placed it on Sunday 475 kilometers (295 miles) southwest of Acapulco, in the state of Guerrero, with sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) and a central pressure of 980 millibars.
It is crawling north-northwest at 7 km/h. No coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
That slow pace is what stretches out the rain. Colima and western Michoacán and Jalisco can expect 50 to 100 millimeters (2 to 4 inches) through Thursday, with isolated totals of 180 millimeters (7 inches). Flooding and mudslides are possible, especially on steep terrain, the NHC warned.
Mexico's National Meteorological Service (SMN) had put the center 540 kilometers from Acapulco at 3 p.m. Saturday, with gusts of 185 km/h. It forecast 25 to 50 millimeters of rain in Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, and showers of 5 to 25 millimeters in Oaxaca.
Waves will reach 3 to 4 meters along the Michoacán and Guerrero coasts, and 2 to 3 meters off Jalisco and Colima. The SMN urged extra caution for boats and told residents to follow civil protection instructions in each state.
Vance was a Category 2 storm when we last reported on it on Friday. Since then it has lost strength, and the heaviest rain has shifted from the Guerrero coast toward Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
Wind shear from the southwest and dry air in the middle levels of the atmosphere are wearing it down. The NHC expects winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) in 48 hours and 80 km/h (50 mph) in 72, and a post-tropical storm by Oct. 30.
