Hurricane Willa has developed into a life-threatening storm as it barrels towards west Mexico in the eastern Pacific ocean.
The hurricane intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday afternoon as it was expected to make landfall Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, prompting the governments of Sinaloa and Nayarit to prepare emergency shelters. Meanwhile, the US National Hurricane Centre has warned Hurricane Willa may "produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of southwestern and west-central Mexico beginning on Tuesday."
The potentially catastrophic storm could also produce "extremely dangerous" conditions like storm surge and rip tides along Mexico’s coastline, forecasters warned early Monday, as Hurricane Willa sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. The western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa states could see up to 18 inches of rain, along with parts of western Jalisco.
Follow along with our live coverage of Hurricane Willa.
Hurricane Willa maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (255 kph) — the same windspeed Hurricane Michael had at landfall in Florida — and was centered about 230 miles (370 kilometers) south of the Islas Marias and 175 miles (280 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes. It was moving north at 7 mph (11 kph).
Hurricane force winds extended 30 miles (45 kilometers) from the storm's core and tropical storm force winds were up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) out.
The hurricane centre said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain should fall — and some places could see up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) — on parts of western Jalisco, western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa states. It warned of the danger of flash flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.
AP
Hurricane Willa was expected to develop into a Category 5 storm by Monday afternoon as it continued on its path towards Mexico. The potentially catastrophic storm arrives amid one of the most act hurricane seasons in the eastern Pacific Ocean since 1971.
The storm sustained winds of 155 miles per hour by early Monday, up from just 40 miles per hour nearly 48 hours earlier, according to the US National Weather Service. The agency warned on Twitter that Hurricane Willa “Willa is another example of rapid intensification in a tropical cyclone. Wind shear will weaken the storm slightly before landfall [Tuesday], but Willa will bring life-threatening storm surge and winds to the Mexico coast."
A hurricane warning was posted for Mexico's western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including the Islas Marias, a nature reserve and federal prison directly in the forecast track of Hurricane Willa.
Tropical storm warnings ranged from Playa Perula north to San Blas and from Mazatlan north to Bahia Tempehuaya. The center said Willa is expected make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
AP
Hurricane Willa could potentially threaten parts of Texas as the near-Category 5 storm barrels towards west Mexico, with analysts predicting it could make landfall as early as Tuesday night.
Texas was badly hit with flooding last week after the Buchanan dam opened, as seen in the video below. More heavy rainfall for the region could produce major damage.
As Hurricane Willa continues strengthening in the eastern Pacific Ocean, analysts warn the near-Category 5 hurricane could be intense when it reaches landfall by Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
Hurricane Willa was previously expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm, but the quickly intensifying hurricane has sustained winds just two miles per hour short of being considered a Category 5 hurricane.
The storm was expected to make landfall in the San Cayetano area, causing heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening floods to surrounding areas.
Here’s how Hurricane Willa could impact Texas as it makes landfall as either a Category 4 or Category 5 storm by early Wednesday. The storm arrives amid an unusually active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The US National Hurricane Centre estimated that total rainfall would range from 5 to 15 inches (12.5 cm to 38.1 cm) across stretches of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states, home to the white sand beach resorts of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Vicente, which formed in the Pacific off southern Mexico on Saturday, began to weaken while hovering along the southern Mexican coast on Sunday and by early Monday was located about 195 miles (310 km) southeast of Acapulco.
It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and the center of the storm would likely remain just offshore or near the southern coast of Mexico through Tuesday morning, according to the NHC.
Reuters
Airline companies are cancelling flights for Tuesday ahead of the rapidly intensifying Hurricane Willa, expected to make landfall by Tuesday night or early Wednesday as a strong Category 4 hurricane — or even potentially a Category 5 storm — bringing heavy rainfall and storm surges to Mexico’s western coastline.
Hurricane Willa was on track to make landfall by Tuesday night in western Mexico before reducing in strength as it passes over the Sierra Madre mountains. However, the Category 4 hurricane was still expected to bring heavy rain to parts of Texas.
A hurricane warning was posted for Mexico’s western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including the Islas Marias, a nature reserve and federal prison directly in the forecast track of the storm.
Tropical storm warnings ranged from Playa Perula north to San Blas and from Mazatlan north to Bahia Tempehuaya. The center said Willa is expected make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Farther to the south, Tropical Storm Vicente weakened but was still expected to produce heavy rainfall and flooding over parts of southern and southwestern Mexico.
AP
Hurricane Willa has intensified into a Category 5 storm as it barrels towards western Mexico, threatening Texas and other regions across the Mexican coastline with storm surges and heavy floods.
The potentially catastrophic hurricane has sustained winds of up to 160 miles per hour, after rapidly intensifying in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The storm may produce life-threatening conditions across the Mexican western coastline, as well as heavy rain throughout Texas.
The US National Hurricane Centre says Hurricane Willa has grown into a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm on a track toward the Mexican coast south of Mazatlan.
Willa has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph), though it’s projected to weaken somewhat before hitting land late Tuesday. It is still likely to be an extremely dangerous hurricane when it hits.
It’s located about 135 miles (215 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes and is heading north at 7 mph (11 kph).
AP
Hurricane Willa has rapidly intensified amid an unusually active hurricane season, with at least 27 tropical systems having developed across the region over the year.
The Category 5 storm threatens Mexico’s western coastline and portions of Texas as its expected to make landfall by Wednesday morning at the latest, according to forecasters.
NASA has tweeted about Hurricane Willa’s rapid intensification across the eastern Pacific Ocean as the Category 5 storm is expected to reach Mexico’s western coastline by Wednesday morning. The storm swelled with energy in the past 48 hours, sustaining winds of 160 miles per hour.
Hurricane Willa is now the tenth major hurricane to have developed in the eastern Pacific Ocean during an unusually active hurricane season. Analysts predict heavy rain on Thursday.
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