Strengthened to Category 2, Hurricane Warning Issued

Hurricane Trudy strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane on Saturday (17/10/2026) local time as it moved toward Mexico's west-central Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in the state of Colima to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco.

Trudy had maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h, located about 180 kilometers south-southwest of Manzanillo and moving northwest at 17 km/h. The storm's center was expected to approach Mexico's coastline on Saturday night and pass nearby through Sunday. Mexico's CONAGUA officially classified Trudy as a Category 2 hurricane.

Extreme Rain, Flash Flooding, and Landslides Threaten

Trudy was forecast to produce 10–20 centimeters of rain, with isolated totals of around 38 centimeters, across Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco through the weekend. The NHC warned the downpour could trigger life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, especially in steep terrain.

Mexico's navy urged mariners and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution amid high waves, heavy rain, and the risk of swollen rivers. Authorities in Colima said the immediate danger remained low, but cautioned that additional heavy rain could cause damage because the ground was already saturated by a series of earlier storms along the Pacific coast.

Context: Most Active Pacific Hurricane Season on Record

Trudy formed on October 13, 2026 as Tropical Depression 21E, became a tropical storm the same day, and intensified into a hurricane on October 15, peaking at Category 3 with 195 km/h winds before weakening. The 2026 Pacific season is the most active on record with an ACE value of 340.1; separately, Typhoon Champi strengthened into a Category 4 super typhoon approaching Guam.