SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico — Hurricane Odile grew into a massive Category 4 storm and took aim at the resort area of Los Cabos on Sunday, prompting authorities to evacuate vulnerable coastal areas and prepare shelters for up to 30,000 people.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Odile was on a track to pass close to or directly over the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula by night and into Monday.

Odile’s maximum sustained winds increased to 135 mph and its center was about 185 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California. Odile was moving to the northwest at 15 mph.

In Los Cabos, skies clouded over as gusty winds whipped palm trees and waves pounded the rocky coastline. Fluttering black flags signaled that beaches were closed due to high surf.

Hotel officials were keeping guests updated about the storm’s approach, and distributing movies and board games in anticipation of everyone having to hunker down inside later in the day.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Baja California Sur from Punta Abreojos to La Paz. High winds, dangerous surf and heavy rains were possible for Baja and parts of the mainland.

Advertisement

David Korenfeld, director of Mexico’s National Water Commission, described Odile as a “highly dangerous” storm.

Korenfeld said there was also a chance the storm could track into the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, and as a precaution authorities were on high alert. Some 800 marines were on standby, and officials readied heavy equipment to help out in areas where mudslides could occur.

Luis Felipe Puente, national coordinator for Mexico’s civil protection agency, said 164 shelters had been prepared for as many as 30,000 people in the state of Baja California Sur. He said occupancy in hotels was low, but tourists were warned to stay inside in the safer areas of the hotels and keep away from doors and windows.

In the central Atlantic, Tropical Storm Edouard strengthened into a hurricane, although it was expected to remain far out at sea and pose no threat to land.

The Hurricane Center said Edouard had sustained winds of 80 mph, was centered 915 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving northwest at 16 mph.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.