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Hurricane Patricia, Category 5 Storm, Menaces Mexico Hurricane Patricia Nears Mexico With Record-Breaking Winds
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Patricia, the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, threatened southern Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Friday afternoon, with meteorologists warning that the storm was packing 200 mile-per-hour winds and monster waves as it headed for landfall. MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Patricia, the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, threatened southern Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Friday afternoon, with meteorologists warning that the storm was packing 200 mile-per-hour winds and monster waves as it headed for landfall.
Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center, said that it was a Category 5 storm, which means it was likely to inflict catastrophic damage and leave stricken areas uninhabitable for weeks or months. “Wind speeds in a hurricane of this nature, what they do is toss up every loose object in their path,” said Roberto Ramrez de la Parra, the director of Mexico’s National Water Commission, which oversees the nation’s weather service. “The risk to people’s physical safety and to their lives is very high.”
Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in the United States, said that Hurricane Patricia was a Category 5 storm, which means it was likely to inflict catastrophic damage and leave stricken areas uninhabitable for weeks or months.
On Friday morning, the storm was moving north at about 10 miles per hour, but it was expected to move faster as it approached the coast, the National Hurricane Center advised. The storm was projected to make landfall in the late afternoon or early evening. After that, meteorologists were expecting it to weaken rapidly.On Friday morning, the storm was moving north at about 10 miles per hour, but it was expected to move faster as it approached the coast, the National Hurricane Center advised. The storm was projected to make landfall in the late afternoon or early evening. After that, meteorologists were expecting it to weaken rapidly.
The World Meteorological Organization warned that the hurricane’s strength was comparable to that of Typhoon Haiyan, which caused devastation in the Philippines in 2013.The World Meteorological Organization warned that the hurricane’s strength was comparable to that of Typhoon Haiyan, which caused devastation in the Philippines in 2013.
The city of Puerto Vallarta and some of Mexico’s most popular resorts are in the path of the storm. Flooding and landslides are expected near coastal areas, and officials are warning that storm surges could cause waves of up to 39 feet, according to The Weather Channel.The city of Puerto Vallarta and some of Mexico’s most popular resorts are in the path of the storm. Flooding and landslides are expected near coastal areas, and officials are warning that storm surges could cause waves of up to 39 feet, according to The Weather Channel.
Tourists and residents in Puerto Vallarta awoke to a light drizzle on Friday morning. By midmorning, there was an eerie calm.Tourists and residents in Puerto Vallarta awoke to a light drizzle on Friday morning. By midmorning, there was an eerie calm.
Airports in Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta were closed, and buses roared out of stations bound for Guadalajara jammed with people racing ahead of the storm. But with no way out, many tourists prepared to hunker down and wait out the storm in hotel shelters. At the Grand Mayan Hotel, staff members prepared the service area farthest from the sea and told guests to report at 1 p.m.Airports in Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta were closed, and buses roared out of stations bound for Guadalajara jammed with people racing ahead of the storm. But with no way out, many tourists prepared to hunker down and wait out the storm in hotel shelters. At the Grand Mayan Hotel, staff members prepared the service area farthest from the sea and told guests to report at 1 p.m.
As the storm approached, posts on Instagram showed people trying to leave Puerto Vallarta. One user posted a photograph of a message from a nearby resort that warned people to return home for their safety.As the storm approached, posts on Instagram showed people trying to leave Puerto Vallarta. One user posted a photograph of a message from a nearby resort that warned people to return home for their safety.
“If this is not possible, please wait for further instructions for a possible evacuation,” the notice read.“If this is not possible, please wait for further instructions for a possible evacuation,” the notice read.
Before the airports closed, posts by another user showed passengers standing in line and aboard an airplane at the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta. Another user appeared to opt to stay behind and posted a photograph of an apartment with boarded-up windows.Before the airports closed, posts by another user showed passengers standing in line and aboard an airplane at the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta. Another user appeared to opt to stay behind and posted a photograph of an apartment with boarded-up windows.
Mr. Feltgen, the meteorologist,said that the storm had grown in the ideal environment: low wind shear, which essentially means that winds did not push the storm apart, and warm water. There have been a record number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes this year, with 22 in the Northern Hemisphere alone, The Weather Channel reported.Mr. Feltgen, the meteorologist,said that the storm had grown in the ideal environment: low wind shear, which essentially means that winds did not push the storm apart, and warm water. There have been a record number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes this year, with 22 in the Northern Hemisphere alone, The Weather Channel reported.
The government of Mexico has issued a tropical storm warning for the coast of Mexico north of San Blas to El Roblito. Luis Felipe Puente, Mexico’s civil defense coordinator, said on Twitter that states of emergency had been declared in the states of Colima, Nayarit and Jalisco.The government of Mexico has issued a tropical storm warning for the coast of Mexico north of San Blas to El Roblito. Luis Felipe Puente, Mexico’s civil defense coordinator, said on Twitter that states of emergency had been declared in the states of Colima, Nayarit and Jalisco.
In the United States, only three Category 5 storms that made landfall have been recorded, Mr. Feltgen said: a 1935 hurricane that killed more than 400 people; Hurricane Camille, which hit Mississippi and killed 244 people in 1969; and Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992, killing at least 10 people there and three in the Bahamas.In the United States, only three Category 5 storms that made landfall have been recorded, Mr. Feltgen said: a 1935 hurricane that killed more than 400 people; Hurricane Camille, which hit Mississippi and killed 244 people in 1969; and Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992, killing at least 10 people there and three in the Bahamas.
But Hurricane Patricia is “uncharted territory,” Jim Cantore, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, said on Twitter.But Hurricane Patricia is “uncharted territory,” Jim Cantore, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, said on Twitter.
“All the precautions to protect life and property should be completed now,” Mr. Feltgen said. “People need to be in a safe place and stay hunkered down until this storm is over.”“All the precautions to protect life and property should be completed now,” Mr. Feltgen said. “People need to be in a safe place and stay hunkered down until this storm is over.”
Cecilia Rangel, a tourism marketing consultant from Mexico City, was preparing to wait out the storm at the Grand Mayan, a hotel in Nuevo Vallarta, a seaside hotel complex at the northern tip of Puerto Vallarta’s majestic bay.
“Everybody knows that there are hurricanes in October, but you never think it’s going to hit you,” she said by phone. Ms. Rangel and four friends had arrived for a weeklong holiday last Saturday.
As news of the approaching storm first spread on Thursday, the women looked for a way to get out of the city. But the airport was closed and buses were quickly filled up. So the group resigned themselves to remaining in the hotel. “Yes the hotel told us to leave if we could, but if not, don’t worry,” Ms. Rangel said.
The guests were told to report to the hotel’s windowless service building at 1 p.m., carrying only valuables and leaving their suitcases in the bathrooms of their rooms. Throughout the morning, guests — many of them elderly Americans — filled the hotel’s tiny supermarket to stock up on supplies. “People seem calm,” Ms. Rangel said.
At the Hotel Catedral Vallarta, a boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta’s cobblestoned downtown, the staff and guests prepared for the hurricane together Friday morning, said a receptionist, Mauricio Coronado. The first concern was stocking up on food before the stores were shuttered. “Everybody went early,” he said, both guests and staff, to buy supplies.