Hurricane Sergio falters off Mexican coast
Source: Reuters
(Updates with details from hurricane center) By Frank Jack Daniel MEXICO CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Hurricane Sergio, a rare mid-November cyclone, wavered on Wednesday but still threatened towns on Mexico's already battered Pacific coast. Sergio had winds of 105 mph (169 kph), down slightly from earlier in the day and still a Category 2 hurricane, capable of tearing off roof shingles and uprooting trees. "Sergio's satellite presentation has degraded rapidly during the last several hours," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. "It is difficult to know whether this is a temporary fluctuation or the beginning of a longer-term weakening trend." With an earlier report putting the hurricane 410 miles (660 km) southwest of the town of Zihuatanejo, the hurricane center recommended vigilance. "Interests along the southwestern coast should monitor the progress of this system," it said. Mexico's Pacific coast has been blitzed with hurricanes and storms this year, while its Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coasts have seen little activity. The eastern Pacific has not seen a storm as strong as Sergio so late in the season since officials began keeping records. The hurricane center's Michelle Mainelli said the busier Pacific storm season, and the less active Atlantic season, were partly a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon. Three hurricanes forecast to hit Baja California's Los Cabos resort towns earlier this year veered away at the last minute from hotels and condominium complexes popular with U.S tourists. In October, Hurricane Paul killed three people in northwestern Mexico. In September, Hurricane Lane took three lives along the Pacific coast and Hurricane John killed at least three people in Baja California. (Additional reporting by Michael Christie in Miami)
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