Weakening Tropical Storm Patricia nears Mexico

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — Tropical Storm Patricia was quickly weakening Tuesday as it approached Mexico’s Los Cabos resorts, where officials closed schools and readied emergency shelters.

The storm had winds of 40 mph (65 kph) on Tuesday evening, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Patricia could weaken into a tropical depression late Tuesday or early Wednesday, the hurricane center said.

The storm was located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of the tourist-heavy tip of the Baja peninsula and it was moving toward the north at near 6 mph (9 kph).

In Cabo San Lucas, tourists awoke to cloudy skies and intermittent rain Tuesday as hotel workers began putting away beach furniture and shutting down all open-air activities.

“The beach is empty and there is little activity at our pool area because tourists are staying in their rooms,” said Casa Dorada Hotel general manager Victor Gomez. “Unfortunately for the tourist, the entertainment options have been limited but we hope to be back to normal by tomorrow or Thursday.”

Cabo San Lucas Civil Protection Director Francisco Cota said authorities are ready to evacuate people living in areas at risk of flooding.

Baja California Sur’s state government announced that all schools at all levels were closed on Tuesday and it said officials were preparing 159 shelters in case of evacuations.

Mexico’s government declared a tropical storm warning for the southern portion of the desert peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas.

Forecasters said it could dump 1 to 3 inches (25 to 75 millimeters) of rain on the region.

In the northwestern states of Sinaloa and Sonora, rains forced the cancellation of two baseball games: the Tomateros of Culiacan vs. the Mayos of Navojoa, and Algodoneros of Guasave vs. the Naranjeros of Hermosillo.