Hurricane Lidia Fades After Striking Puerto Vallarta

Hurricane Lidia, a powerful Category 4 storm, has lost its punch after battering the shores near Puerto Vallarta. The impact resulted in one fatality and two injuries. This intense hurricane brought strong winds, up to 140 mph, that knocked down trees and tore roofs from houses before making its way inland.

Fatalities and Injuries
Laura Velázquez, who heads Mexico’s civil defense system, reported that one person lost their life in the northern outskirts of Puerto Vallarta when a falling tree struck them, while two others sustained injuries in the vicinity.

Weakening Strength
Following its landfall in Cabo Corrientes, a sparsely populated peninsula, Lidia moved further inland, south of Puerto Vallarta, with winds of 105 mph. However, as of Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center noted that Lidia’s winds had subsided significantly to just 35 mph. The hurricane ultimately dissipated about 145 miles north-northeast of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city and the capital of the western state of Jalisco.

Impact on the Region
Remarkably, Lidia’s strength remained formidable even over land, causing temporary highway blockages in the region. In response, 23 shelters were opened in Jalisco state, and a few dozen residents sought refuge in Puerto Vallarta’s shelters.

Recalling Past Hurricanes
Notably, this isn’t the first time Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings have faced powerful hurricanes. In 2015, Hurricane Patricia, a Category 5 hurricane, also made landfall in this sparsely populated coastal area.

Tropical Storm Sean Forms in the Atlantic
While Lidia weakened and dissipated, Tropical Storm Sean formed far out in the Atlantic. However, the Hurricane Center predicts that Sean is unlikely to significantly strengthen. With winds at 40 mph and located approximately 725 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, Sean is expected to weaken into a tropical depression next week without posing a threat to land.