Jimena weakens as it comes ashore

LOS CABOS, Mexico – Hurricane Jimena weakened into a tropical storm Wednesday as it plowed over Baja California, tearing off roofs, knocking down power poles and bringing welcome rainfall to a drought-stricken state.

The storm made landfall Wednesday afternoon between Puerto San Andresito and San Juanico, a sparsely populated area of fishing villages on the Pacific coast of the peninsula.

Wind gusts and heavy rains blew down dozens of trees and lamp posts in Loreto, the nearest significant resort town to the area where Jimena made landfall. About 500 people were in shelters in Loreto, which lies roughly on the other side of the narrow peninsula from where Jimena made landfall.

The federal government said more than 11,000 people went to shelters in the peninsula.

The picturesque beach resorts of Los Cabos, on the southernmost tip, were mostly spared overnight, when the roaring hurricane toppled signs, choked streets with mud and knocked out power but did little serious damage. No injuries were reported.

Winds weakened rapidly from Tuesday’s roaring 150 mph Category 4 blasts to 70 mph, making Jimena a tropical storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm was expected to weaken further as it runs north up the Baja peninsula, which is home to about 3.5 million people.