Federal officials are urging Canadians against non-essential travel to parts of Mexico as Newton strengthened and became a full-blown off the coast of Mexico.
Right now, the storm is drenching parts of western Mexico and is heading north toward the Baja California peninsula. So far, about 100 people had to evacuate their homes as the storm battered residences along the coast, according to the Associated Press.
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Roads were blocked by flooding and mudslides, which meant some locals needed to be rescued by helicopter. No deaths were reported.
“Global Affairs Canada advises against non-essential travel to the coastline between Cabo San Lazaro to Loreto due to due to Tropical Storm Newton,” the federal government wrote in its travel update, issued before the storm was reclassified as a hurricane Monday afternoon.
Newton was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h, and is expected to come ashore in Baja California Sur by Tuesday.
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A hurricane warning was in effect for Cabo San Lucas and the nearby coastline.
Newton is expected to cross over the peninsula and re-enter the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, on Wednesday.
The hurricane centre said the storm is likely to continue north into Arizona as a tropical depression later in the week.
The travel advisory also issued warnings for areas such as Acapulco, not for weather but for “high levels of violence and organized crime,” demonstrations, protests and occasional illegal roadblocks.
Finally, Zika virus is also a concern for travellers to Mexico.
“Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to Mexico,” the advisory read. Read the full warning here.
With files from the Associated Press
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
Follow @Carmen_Chai
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