Hurricane Rachel strengthened to a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Thursday, October 1, as parts of northern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest continued dealing with flooding and damage from Hurricane Polo’s remnants.

Rachel sat about 235 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California and moved west-northwest at 3 mph. The National Hurricane Center said Rachel could strengthen on Friday before weakening over the weekend.

Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph Thursday evening. The hurricane could also produce dangerous surf and rip currents along Mexico’s coast.

Hurricane Rachel Keeps Mexico on Alert

Mexican authorities remained on alert over forecasts of very heavy rainfall in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco.

Officials warned of possible landslides, rising rivers, overflowing waterways and flooding in low-lying areas.

Authorities in Cabo San Lucas also warned residents and visitors about beach and port closures and dangerous rip currents linked to the hurricane.

The Pacific has experienced a busy hurricane season, with experts linking the activity to El Niño. Warmer ocean waters and changing wind patterns have contributed to conditions that can support hurricane development.

Northern Mexico Still Recovering

Meanwhile, northern Mexico continued to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Polo. Hundreds of people remained displaced or had lost their homes, while local authorities reported flooding in at least 13 municipalities Thursday night.

Residents in affected communities faced severe flooding. In Bacabachi, Sonora, one family escaped rising floodwaters by climbing onto the roof of their home after their dog alerted them during the night.

Hurricane Remnants Bring More Flooding

Hurricane remnants also continued to bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of the central United States.

Areas in Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa faced flood watches Thursday afternoon. Lincoln, Nebraska, recorded 6.1 inches of rain Wednesday, making it the city’s wettest day on record.

Omaha received 4.7 inches of rain, while firefighters responded to 80 water rescues over three hours. Some floodwaters reached eight feet.

Texas also faced flash-flood warnings, while PowerOutage.us reported more than 19,000 residents without power Thursday afternoon. Officials in several states urged residents to take precautions as the storm system continued to affect communities.