Pamela makes landfall in Mexico as category 1 hurricane, moves inland as storm

Hurricane Pamela struck the Mexican Pacific coast as a Category 1 hurricane before losing power and moving as a tropical storm inland, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the United States reported.

The NHC said that the storm recovered from hurricane-force just before it hit the coast of the Mexican state of Sinaloa on Wednesday morning, north of the beach resort and fishing port of Mazatlan.

The NHC's latest advice at 18:00 GMT put Pamela about 270km (170 miles) northeast of Mazatlan as the tropical storm hit a maximum sustained wind of 75km / h (45 mph).

During the landfall, Pamela brought a maximum wind of about 120km / h (75 mph) but was expected to weaken as it moved into the country. Earlier forecasts had predicted a stronger storm.

Civil defence officials in Sinaloa said Pamela's wind and rain had caused minor damage, while the storm remnants were expected to hit the U.S. state of Texas on Thursday.

The NHC, based in Miami, Florida, has warned of the possibility of life-threatening storm surges, floods and dangerous winds around the impact area.

Authorities have urged residents of rural areas to move into shelters due to the risk of flooding.

The storm was expected to hit Sinaloa, the country's top wall keeper, Mexico's core, and a major producer of tomatoes and other fruits that are prominent in the country's agricultural exports to the United States.

Precipitation of between 10 and 30 centimetres (four to 12 inches) was expected to hit both Sinaloa and neighbouring Durango.

"This precipitation can lead to significant and life-threatening lightning floods and mudslides," the NHC added.

Last year, according to government data, Sinaloa alone produced more than 380,000 tons of tomatoes, or nearly a fifth of Mexico's national output and overwhelmingly determined for export.

Due to its location, Mexico is often hit by tropical storms and hurricanes on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

In August, Hurricane Nora landed in the Pacific state of Jalisco, killing a child and leaving one person missing. Hurricane Grace left at least 11 dead on the east coast of mainland Mexico in the same month.