Tropical Storm Blanca Strikes Mexico's Pacific Coast

Mexico City: Tropical Storm Blanca struck Mexico's tourist-friendly Baja California peninsula today, dumping heavy rain on the Pacific region that could trigger flash floods, forecasters said.

With maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour, Blanca was located some 45 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Cabo San Lazaro and was weakening over land, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

The storm is expected to dump up three to five inches (eight to 13 centimeters) of rain over much of the peninsula, with isolated maximum amounts of eight inches (20 centimeters), the center said.

"These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," it said in a 1500 GMT bulletin.