Tropical Storm Lidia formed around the southern tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula on Thursday, but officials said that it's not likely to reach hurricane strength.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Thursday, Aug. 31, that the storm formed about 90 miles south-southeast of Los Cabos resorts in Mexico.
It's packing winds of 45 mph, Reuters reported.
The storm will reach the center of the Baja peninsula on Thursday, the NHC said.
Rains from the storm have reached across Mexico, and it briefly prompted the closure of Mexico City's airport.
A hurricane watch was still in effect for part of Baja California Sur, from Puerto Cortes to east of La Paz, and the storm was expected to bring a dangerous storm surge to coasts while rains could cause flash floods, the NHC said.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Baja California Sur from Puerto Cortes to east of La Paz
- Baja California Sur from Puerto Cortes to San Evaristo
- Mainland Mexico from Bahia Tempehuaya to Huatabampito
On Wednesday, Hurricane Irma formed some 650 miles to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands, according to reports.
- Baja California Sur from north of San Evaristo to Loreto
- North of Puerto Cortes to Puerto San Andresito
The system could potentially hit the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean, North and South Carolina, or Bermuda, as Accuweather.com reported.
Some reports have said that Irma could turn into a Category 4 storm—or possibly a rare Category 5—before it reaches the Antilles Islands next week.
The storms come as thousands of people fled Texas after floods spawned by Hurricane Harvey ravaged the southern part of the state.
Soldiers and police in helicopters and special high-water trucks on Thursday rescued thousands of Texans stranded by floodwater dumped by Hurricane Harvey, which killed at least 37 people as it drenched the Gulf Coast this week.
In Beaumont, Texas, doctors and nurses evacuated some 190 people from a hospital that halted operations after water service in the city of almost 120,000 people was knocked out by the storm. Harvey came ashore over the weekend as the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in a half-century.
"We don't have any water. Water shut down. We can't run (kidney) dialysis," and other procedures, said hospital security guard Devan Campbell, standing outside as about 190 patients were led out.