Ankara:Mexico City Hurricane Rachel has intensified into a Category 2 cyclone off Mexico's Pacific coast, prompting warnings of heavy rain, strong winds, and high waves across several western states.

According to Anadolu Agency, the storm is located approximately 370 kilometers south of the southern tip of Baja California, moving west-northwest at 9 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds reaching 165 kilometers per hour, as reported by the US National Hurricane Center.

Mexico's National Civil Protection Coordination has forecast that Rachel will bring very heavy rainfall to Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Jalisco. Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in central and southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, and other southeastern regions.

In northern Mexico, forecasters predict intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and possible hail in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Durango, and Zacatecas. There is also a warning for possible tornadoes due to strong winds in northern Coahuila.

Rachel's strengthening follows closely after Hurricane Polo, which recently made landfall in Baja California Sur, bringing significant rainfall, strong winds, and flooding across parts of Mexico and influencing weather patterns in the southwestern United States.

The US National Hurricane Center expects Rachel to continue moving along the Mexican coastline before turning westward into the Pacific. Despite its offshore position, the storm is anticipated to generate dangerous surf and heavy rainfall along portions of the Mexican Pacific coast.

Authorities are urging residents in the affected areas to stay informed of weather updates and to take necessary precautions against potential flooding, landslides, and strong winds. As the 20th named storm and 10th hurricane of the Central and Eastern Pacific hurricane season, officials emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant due to rapidly changing conditions.