The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storm Ileana off Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, which is expected to be the first cyclone to directly impact the coastline in 2024.

Rain has already been reported in parts of Baja California from Ileana’s outer bands. The storm is expected to make landfall as a tropical storm near the popular beach resort of Cabo San Lucas later on Friday, before slowly moving north through the Gulf of California.

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During the system’s passage, wind speeds are never expected to exceed 50 mph (80 km/h), but the main impacts are likely to be heavy rainfall and rough surf.

Forecasts show that 10-20 centimeters of rain could fall in Baja, with similar amounts of precipitation in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

The heavy rainfall could be a precursor to mudslides and landslides, which often occur in tropical weather conditions.

Tropical Storm Ileana

(FOX Weather)

In addition, the threat of rip currents will be high due to the increased waves, which will continue during the coming working week.

First tropical cyclone hits Mexican coast since Hurricane Otis

The tropical cyclone is expected to be the first system to directly impact Mexico’s coastline since the historic wrath of Hurricane Otis in 2023.

In late October, conditions allowed the hurricane to quickly strengthen to Category 5 strength before making landfall near Acapulco.

Many people along the Mexican coastline were taken by surprise by the rapid force of the cyclone, killing dozens and causing damage estimated at $15 billion.

HURRICANE OTIS MAKES HISTORIC CATEGORY 5 LANDMARK IN MEXICO NEAR ACAPULCO

A graph showing why Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, was so historic.

(FOX Weather)

Areas affected by Otis will not experience any direct impacts from Ileana as the tropical storm is located hundreds of miles northwest of the region.

A significant trough of low pressure is expected to pull the cyclone northward, with impacts extending as far north as the US.

Limited humidity may be introduced into the desert in the southwest

Remnants of the storm could move over the southwestern United States next week, increasing the chance of rain and lowering temperatures.

Moisture inflow is expected to be limited, but the increased chance of precipitation is good news for a region that has had a mediocre monsoon season.

SOUTHWEST MONSOON SEASON IS HERE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Phoenix, which set a record for most days with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest summer on record, will benefit from increased cloud cover and rainfall.

Temperatures are expected to remain around 32 degrees Celsius, a significant departure from recent months and well below the mid-September average.