MEXICO CITY, June 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Bud strengthened to a Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) off the coast of Mexico early on Tuesday, but should begin to weaken later in the day, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
With maximum sustained winds of some 130 miles per hour (210 kilometers per hour), Bud was barreling towards the popular beach resorts of Los Cabos on the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, the Miami-based NHC said.
By the time it is forecast to reach the peninsula late on Thursday, Bud is expected to have weakened to a tropical storm, the NHC said. No coastal warnings were in effect.
15PHOTOS
15 of the deadliest American hurricanes ever
See Gallery
15 of the deadliest American hurricanes ever
Hurricane Hugo, 1989: 21 deaths
Hurricane Hugo made landfall as a Category 4 storm in South Carolina. It caused 21 deaths in the US and resulted in $7.1 billion of damage. At the time, it was the costliest storm in US history.
Photo courtesy: Getty
Tropical Storm Allison, 2001: 41 deaths
While not an official hurricane, Allison clocks in as the costliest and deadliest tropical storm in US history, causing 41 deaths and costing more than $5 billion in damage. The storm started over the Gulf of Mexico near Texas, then traveled east, causing floods like the one pictured here in Houston, Texas.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Hurricane Irene, 2011: 56 deaths
Hurricane Irene, the first storm to hit the US since Ike three years earlier, made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 storm. The storm eventually made its way up to New York City, bringing flooding -- like the kind pictured here in Puerto Rico -- and causing $7.3 billion in damage overall.
Photo courtesy: AP
Hurricane Floyd, 1999: 57 deaths
Hurricane Floyd was a catastrophic storm because of the rain it brought along. The rain caused extreme flooding from North Carolina on up as the Category 2 storm traveled up the East Coast.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Great Atlantic Hurricane, 1944: 64 deaths
The Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 was also devastating to New England, with 64 deaths and more than $100 million in damage. The storm was a Category 3 as it sped up the coast, hitting the Carolinas, Rhode Island, and Long Island before downgrading to a Category 2 in Maine.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Hurricane Agnes, 1972: 122 deaths
Hurricane Agnes, as seen in this image made it all the way inland to Pennsylvania. Although it was only a Category 1 storm (with winds from 74-95 mph), it still caused 122 deaths and caused $2.1 billion in damage.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Hurricane Ike, 2008: 195 deaths
The third costliest storm in US history, with $29.5 billion in damage, occurred in September 2008. Starting off the west coast of Africa, Hurricane Ike made its way over the Caribbean and into the Gulf, making US landfall in Texas as a Category 2 storm.
Photo courtesy: Reuters
Hurricane Camille, 1969: 256 deaths
Hurricane Camille formed in the Gulf of Mexico and hit Mississippi as a Category 5 storm. Camille caused more than 256 deaths and clocks in as the second most intense hurricane to hit the US.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
New England, 1938: 256 deaths
Nicknamed "Long Island Express," the storm hit Puerto Rico as a Category 5 storm before charging north and hitting Long Island, New York and Connecticut as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm was responsible for more than 256 deaths.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Hurricane Sandy, 2012: 285 deaths
With $71.4 billion in damage, Hurricane Sandy was the second costliest hurricane in US history. The Category 1 storm pummeled New York City, flooding the city's transportation systems and leaving thousands of homes destroyed.
It's looking more and more like Hurricane Joaquin won't make landfall in the US and join the list of most horrific storms in US history.
Photo courtesy: AP
Hurricane Audrey, 1957: 416 deaths
The U.S. started naming storms with women's names starting in 1953. Hurricane Audrey, the first storm of the 1957 hurricane season was the deadliest of the 1950s. It originated in the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in Texas as a Category 4 storm. This image of the storm shows just how far hurricane imaging has come.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Atlantic-Gulf, 1919: 600 to 900 deaths
This Category 4 storm swept into the Gulf of Mexico right under Key West, Florida(pictured), landing as a Category 3 storm in Corpus Christi, Texas. Anywhere from 600 to 900 people died in that storm.
Hurricane Katrina, 2005: 1,200 deaths
Hurricane Katrina is arguably the most notorious storm of the 21st century. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 near Miami before striking Louisiana as a Category 3 storm. Katrina was the third deadliest, and costliest hurricane in U.S. history with more than 1,200 deaths and $108 billion in damage.
Photo courtesy: Reuters
San Felipe Okeechobee, 1928: 2,500 deaths
This hurricane was the second deadliest in US history, with more than 2,500 deaths. The Category 4 storm made landfall in Palm Beach on September 10, 1928. Puerto Rico got hit hard as well, with winds at 144 mph.
Photo courtesy: NOAA
Galveston, Texas in 1900: 8,000 to 12,000 deaths
The deadliest hurricane in US history happened at the turn of the 20th century. The Category 4 of 5 hurricane -- with winds anywhere from 130-156 mph -- made landfall in Galveston, Texas (pictured), then headed north through the Great Plains. Anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 people died in the storm.
Photo courtesy: Creative Commons
Up Next
See Gallery
Discover More Like This
HIDE CAPTION
SHOW CAPTION
of
SEE ALL
BACK TO SLIDE
Early on Tuesday, Bud was moving towards the northwest at around 7 mph (11 km/h). Through Thursday, the storm is expected to dump rainfall of 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm) across much of southwestern Mexico, with up to 10 inches in some areas.
The heavy rain could cause deadly flash floods and mudslides, the NHC said. (Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Bernadette Baum)