• Tropical Storm Barbara has strengthened into a hurricane off Mexico's coast.
• Heavy rains are expected to cause flooding and mudslides in western Mexican states.
• Barbara's maximum sustained winds have reached 65 mph, with a dangerous surf forecasted.

Tropical Storm Barbara has officially strengthened into a hurricane as it moves off the southwestern coast of Mexico, as confirmed by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm was located approximately 235 miles west-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, with maximum sustained winds now at 65 mph. The hurricane is projected to continue to gain strength over the next few days while remaining offshore, although it poses risks of localized flooding in Mexico's western states, particularly Guerrero and Michoacan, where rainfall may range from 2 to 4 inches through Monday, according to CBS News, India Times, and Newsweek.

The NHC has warned that swells produced by Barbara could create dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents along the southwestern coast of Mexico. Although the hurricane is expected to stay primarily at sea, the heavy rainfall forecast poses a significant threat of mudslides in the region's elevated areas. Notably, another tropical storm, Cosme, is also active in the Pacific but does not currently threaten land, noted by India Times and Newsweek.

Forecasters have indicated that Barbara is expected to weaken by Tuesday, but its movement will likely remain parallel to the coast for several days. AccuWeather experts have expressed concerns over the storm’s capacity to produce hazardous conditions along Mexico's coastline. "While most of the wind will remain offshore, heavy rain can still occur across southwestern Mexico," stated meteorologist Alex DaSilva, reinforcing the potential for localized flooding and mudslides, according to CBS News, India Times, and Newsweek.