The storm is expected to make landfall as a potentially catastrophic category five hurricane, but to weaken rapidly thereafter.
of Mexico approaching the coast from the Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Otis has strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
According to the center, the winds in Otis are already blowing at almost 65 meters per second, and the wind gusts have been even stronger than this. The storm is also predicted to intensify further before landfall.
When the center of the storm hits the west coast of Mexico, Otis may already be a potentially catastrophic category five hurricane, meaning it has reached the highest level on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale.
Otis is predicted to reach the coast early Wednesday local time.
NHC warns that the storm can bring with it, among other things, destructive winds and a potentially catastrophic storm surge that can lead to life-threatening flooding in coastal areas. Large and destructive waves can occur near the coast.
Dangerous waves and currents have been seen in parts of the coastal areas of southern Mexico over the next few days.
Heavy rains in turn, can lead to flash floods and mudslides, as well as flooding in urban areas. According to the center, up to 38 centimeters of rain has been predicted for Guerrero and parts of the neighboring state of Oaxaca.
After landfall, Otis is expected to weaken rapidly.
Based on the NHC’s most recent update, the center of the storm was about 85 miles, or about 137 kilometers, from the popular tourist beach resort of Acapulco. A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast from Zihuatanejo to Punta Maldonado.
Authorities in the southern state of Guerrero have suspended school classes and prepared to open emergency shelters.
Soldiers have been patrolling the beach in Acapulco, where visitors have been making the most of the pre-storm low.
Hurricanes lands in Mexico every year from both the Pacific and the Atlantic. Hurricanes are usually seen between May and November.
The west coast of Mexico has already seen at least two hurricanes during October.
Earlier this month, two people were killed when Hurricane Lidia hit the western Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Lidia’s strength on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale was the strongest four.
Last week, on the other hand, hurricane Norma made landfall in Mexico, which was at sea when it was in the third category of the hurricane scale, but reached the coast as a category one storm.
Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the Earth warms due to climate change.
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