The Category 1 hurricane is rumbling just off the coast of Baja California Sur state, bringing torrential rain and winds of 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour, according to data from the US National Hurricane Center.

Lorena is forecast to make landfall on Thursday at the northern tip of the state, far from the tourist port of La Paz.

"The center of Lorena is expected to move parallel to the west coast of the Baja California peninsula" during Wednesday night and "approach the coast of Baja California Sur on Thursday night," the National Hurricane Center said.

La Paz businesses closed their doors in preparation, and the normally busy boardwalk was near empty.

Some locals placed sandbags at the entrances of their buildings to protect them from flooding.

The drainage system in some areas was already overwhelmed, causing sewage leaks, AFP reporters saw.

"We protected windows, protected our little house, and already gathered water. We are prepared," said Olga Alarcon, a 69-year-old worker.

Mexico suffers from cyclones every year, both on the Pacific coast and the Atlantic coast, usually between May and November.