Weakened Ignacio soaks Baja California
Forecasters warn of possible flash floods, mudslides
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This satellite image shows Tropical Depression Ignacio at 4:56 p.m. Tuesday EDT.
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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Depression Ignacio steadily weakened Tuesday as it tracked slowly over southern Baja California, though its heavy rainfall still poses a serious threat to the region.
In its advisory issued at 11 p.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center said Ignacio had weakened to a tropical depression, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph [56 km/h], and was centered about 35 miles [56 kilometers] west of Loreto on the peninsula's east coast. The storm was moving to the northwest at about 5 mph [7 km/h].
Tropical storms become depressions when their top sustained wind speeds dip below 39 mph [62 km/h].
Though weakened, the storm is still dumping heavy rain on the peninsula's east coast, which could lead to life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, forecasters said.
"Additional heavy rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, locally higher, are still likely over portions of southern Baja California," the NHC said.
Baja California has been a wine-producing region since Spanish missionaries planted grapes there in the 1700s. The region produces 90 percent of Mexico's wines.
CNN Radio's Ninette Sosa contributed to this report.
