Hurricane Warning Issued for Mexico’s Coast as Flossie Intensifies Quickly
Hurricane Flossie has rapidly intensified off Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast and is expected to continue strengthening over the next 36 hours.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Flossie reached Category 1 hurricane status on Monday night, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour).
As of the latest advisory, the storm was located approximately 280 kilometers (175 miles) south of Manzanillo, moving west-northwest at a speed of 17 kilometers per hour (10 mph), parallel to Mexico’s coastline.
Forecasters expect Flossie to remain just offshore for the next few days, delivering heavy rain to several states along the coast.
In anticipation, Mexican authorities issued a tropical storm warning for coastal areas stretching from Punta San Telmo to Playa Perula. A tropical storm watch is also in place for regions between Zihuatanejo and Cabo Corrientes, indicating that tropical storm conditions could develop within 48 hours.
Even though the storm’s core is likely to stay at sea, rainfall totals could reach up to 150 millimeters (6 inches) in parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco by Wednesday. This heavy rain poses serious risks of flash flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas.
Flossie is projected to intensify further before it begins to weaken as it moves over cooler ocean waters.
Meanwhile, remnants of Tropical Depression Barry are bringing significant rainfall to Mexico’s Gulf coast. Barry made landfall south of Tampico with sustained winds of 48 kilometers per hour (30 mph), according to the National Hurricane Center.
