Baja California Peninsula

Hurricane Rick strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast and forecasters said it could strike the Baja California peninsula this week. The storm had sustained winds of 160 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported, though it said it was likely to lose some of that punch before making landfall. Forecasters said Rick was projected to stay well off the coast, then hit before the Baja California peninsula Wednesday, perhaps as a Category 2 hurricane.

Hurricane Rick, the strongest eastern North Pacific storm in more than a decade, raged across open seas, but forecasters said it could veer into resorts at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula by midweek. The track of the Category 5 hurricane threatened to disrupt a major sport fishing tournament scheduled to start Wednesday in Los Cabos, where hundreds of fishermen -- mainly Americans -- were gathering. The hurricane's winds were 175 mph, down slightly from a peak of 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Hurricane Isis climbed up the Gulf of California and reached the Mexican mainland, drenching the state of Sinaloa. But Isis was likely to weaken as it moved over land, the U.S. National Weather Service in Miami said. Before reaching hurricane status, Isis caused heavy rains in the Baja California peninsula, killing at least one person. It also forced residents from their homes and knocked out power and phone service.

Hurricane Norbert strengthened into a Category 4 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast as it churned on a path expected to take it over the southern half of the Baja California peninsula this weekend. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Norbert was likely to turn northeast over the next two days. Officials across the region were setting up shelters and preparing for possible evacuations. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 135 mph, the hurricane center said. It was expected to reach a relatively unpopulated stretch of coast well north of Cabo San Lucas before dawn Saturday.

Hurricane Norbert strengthened into a Category 4 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast as it churned on a path expected to take it over the southern half of the Baja California peninsula this weekend. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Norbert was likely to turn northeast over the next two days. Officials across the region were setting up shelters and preparing for possible evacuations. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 135 mph, the hurricane center said. It was expected to reach a relatively unpopulated stretch of coast well north of Cabo San Lucas before dawn Saturday.

Tropical Storm Ivo continued to build force and chug west through the Pacific but was expected to skirt the Baja California peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Ivo had sustained winds of nearly 45 mph. It was centered about 260 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, which is at the tip of the peninsula. Ivo was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. Following the forecast track would keep it about 140 miles from the peninsula.

Nineteen Performance Handicap Racing Fleet yachts left Long Beach Friday in the Long Beach Yacht Club's 12th biennial race to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. There was little or no wind and the yachts appeared to be heading into a dense fog bank offshore with possibly even less wind. Starting Friday were the PHRF C and D boats. Starting today at noon will be the International Offshore Rule ratings, classes A and B, along with PHRF A and B.

A powerful Pacific storm that dropped heavy rain and snow on Northern and Central California largely bypassed Southern California on Tuesday, and forecasters said Southland weather should remain dry through New Year's Day. There's a 50-50 chance of rain Thursday night and Friday, but Saturday and Sunday should be cool but dry. Forecasters called for up to 3 inches of rain in Southern California as the big storm moved south along the coast,...

Along the desolate Baja California peninsula, President Vicente Fox's grand plans for a yachters' paradise have produced only a half-finished marina of crumbling boulders and a highway that ends abruptly, giving way to sand and scrub brush. The $1.3-billion project, the "Nautical Staircase," was supposed to build 27 new or revamped marinas along the region's 1,000 miles of rocky coastline, then add luxury hotels, airports, world-class golf courses, and exclusive ocean-side bistros and spas.

When it comes to marking history, you could say Baja California just hasn't had time. Helter-skelter economic growth and a tidal influx of job-seekers from Mexico's interior have lent the border region an intoxicating urgency, but left its cultural past largely unremembered. Now the Mexican government, which has long worked to remind denizens along the U.S. border of their homeland's heritage, is opening a museum that will underline instead Baja California's distinct identity.

Along the desolate Baja California peninsula, President Vicente Fox's grand plans for a yachters' paradise have produced only a half-finished marina of crumbling boulders and a highway that ends abruptly, giving way to sand and scrub brush. The $1.3-billion project, the "Nautical Staircase," was supposed to build 27 new or revamped marinas along the region's 1,000 miles of rocky coastline, then add luxury hotels, airports, world-class golf courses, and exclusive ocean-side bistros and spas.

A powerful Pacific storm that dropped heavy rain and snow on Northern and Central California largely bypassed Southern California on Tuesday, and forecasters said Southland weather should remain dry through New Year's Day. There's a 50-50 chance of rain Thursday night and Friday, but Saturday and Sunday should be cool but dry. Forecasters called for up to 3 inches of rain in Southern California as the big storm moved south along the coast,...

Hurricane Ignacio sideswiped the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula Sunday, threatening to batter the region with winds topping 105 mph as authorities closed all ports and airports and evacuated low-lying areas. The hurricane gathered force Sunday as it pushed north into the narrow Gulf of California, hugging the eastern edge of this desert peninsula sprinkled with golf courses and five-star hotels.

Tropical Storm Ivo continued to build force and chug west through the Pacific but was expected to skirt the Baja California peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Ivo had sustained winds of nearly 45 mph. It was centered about 260 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, which is at the tip of the peninsula. Ivo was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. Following the forecast track would keep it about 140 miles from the peninsula.

When it comes to marking history, you could say Baja California just hasn't had time. Helter-skelter economic growth and a tidal influx of job-seekers from Mexico's interior have lent the border region an intoxicating urgency, but left its cultural past largely unremembered. Now the Mexican government, which has long worked to remind denizens along the U.S. border of their homeland's heritage, is opening a museum that will underline instead Baja California's distinct identity.

Fidgeting as he waited in a Tijuana bank, Matt Parry did not look like a man on a relaxing fishing getaway. He had already stopped at a Mexican immigration office after crossing the border from San Ysidro to apply for a tourist permit. Now he had walked a quarter-mile to the bank to pay a new, 150-peso fee (about $16.50 at the current exchange rate) that would make the permit legal.