Hurricane Lorena Tracker: Desert Southwest Homeowners Targeted for Heavy Flooding This Weekend

Lorena intensified into a hurricane early Wednesday morning. Now less than 200 miles off Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, Hurricane Lorena has already unleashed 2 to 8 inches of rain across Los Cabos since Tuesday. At the same time, tropical storm watches and warnings remain in effect for the southern half of the Pacific Coast, according to The Weather Channel.

Though Lorena is not expected to make U.S. landfall, the storm’s remnants could trigger flooding this weekend across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

But the Southwest could use a boost in rain from Lorena. The entire state of Arizona is currently in drought conditions, while 70% of New Mexico is suffering from drought.

Meanwhile, attention is shifting east, as Tropical Storm Gabrielle gains strength in the Atlantic and could reach hurricane status by next week.

Recap of the hurricane season so far

The 2025–26 hurricane season has already made headlines, with Hurricane Erin having caused significant damage in August.

Much like Gabrielle, Erin started as a "tropical wave" while at sea. No sooner was it classified as a tropical storm than it was upgraded to hurricane status. Then, in just 24 hours, Erin strengthened in its intensity from Category 1 to Category 5 on Aug. 16.

While damage to homes and communities was minimal, Erin caused significant flooding in coastal towns from North Carolina to New Jersey.

Now, with Hurricane Lorena in the Pacific and Tropical Storm Gabrielle developing in the Atlantic, the midseason stretch is proving to be just as active as forecasters expected.

The 2025 hurricane season was predicted to be 'above normal'

The NOAA updated its 2025 hurricane season outlook—originally released in May—reaffirming its forecast for "above-normal" Atlantic hurricane activity before the season ends on Nov. 30.

NOAA experts say the likelihood of a more intense hurricane season is 50%, down from 60% in May.

The agency expects 13 to 18 named storms with winds of at least 39 mph, of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher. Of those, 2 to 5 could escalate to major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or more.

"As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities," acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm said in a NOAA report.

A 2025 hurricane risk report by Cotality, a data-driven tech company, found more than 33.1 million residential properties—with a combined reconstruction cost value (RCV) of $11.7 trillion—are at moderate or greater risk of sustaining damage from hurricane-force winds.

Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts are among the states with the highest number of homes and RCV at moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage.

How to prepare for a hurricane before it makes landfall

Preparation is key during hurricane season, with early readiness offering the best peace of mind. Stocking water, nonperishable food, cash, prescriptions, and vital documents well before June 1 is strongly advised, says meteorologist Rachael Gauthier, of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety in Charlotte, NC.

Insurance companies often issue “binding restrictions” once a storm is forecast, pausing new coverage until the threat passes. That’s why securing homeowners insurance and maintaining an emergency savings buffer are essential steps.

“An emergency savings buffer is vital to being ready to cover unexpected costs,” says Melanie Musson, an insurance expert at Clearsurance.com, stressing the need for funds to handle uninsured damages. Families are also encouraged to create evacuation routes and designate safe meeting points.

In the days before a storm hits, boarding up windows, moving outdoor items indoors, and fueling vehicles or generators can help safeguard property.

“A few days before incoming storms, it’s a good idea to board up windows, bring in outside items that could become flying projectiles in high winds, and stock up on extra fuel,” Gauthier advises.