Hurricane Otis is forecast to make landfall over southern Mexico early Wednesday as at category 5 storm. Image courtesy of NOAA
A “nightmare scenario” was developing for southern Mexico late Tuesday as Category 5 Hurricane Otis was continuing to strengthen as it took aim at the Pacific resort town of Acapulco, forecasters said.
In a 11 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center warned the storm, already packing 165 mph winds, was still strengthening as it neared Mexico’s southern coast at 9 mph. Advertisement
The forecasters located Otis about 45 miles south-southeast of Acapulco.
The storm is expected to make landfall early Wednesday, potentially causing catastrophic damage where it moves on shore, it said.
“This is an extremely serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area with the core of the destructive hurricane likely to come near or over that large city early on Wednesday,” the NHC said in its 10 p.m. update. “There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico.”
A hurricane warning is in effect for Punta Maldonado westward to Zihuatanejo, with a hurricane watch issued for Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado.
Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado was also under a tropical storm warning.
After making landfall, the storm is expected to rapidly weaken before dissipating over southern Mexico on Wednesday night. Advertisement
