Hurricane Willa has rapidly intensified into an “extremely dangerous” category five storm in the eastern Pacific, with computer models early Monday forecasting landfall on Mexico’s western coast between Mazatlan and Perto Vallarta in the next several days.
According to The Washington Post, state governments of Sinaloa and Nayarit began preparing emergency shelters ahead of the life-threatening storm.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned early Monday morning that Willa could “produce life-threatening storm surge, wind, and rainfall over portions of southwestern and west-central Mexico beginning on Tuesday.”
Ed Vallee, a meteorologist at Vallee Wx Consulting, said Willa is a powerful category four hurricane, with winds similar to Hurricane Michael when it made landfall on the Florida panhandle Oct. 10. He warned the system will slam into southwestern and west-central Mexico region early this week, then could cause flooding conditions in Texas.
“Hurricane Willa is quickly approaching the southwestern Mexican coast this week, complete with sustained winds at 155 mph and gusts up to 190 mph. Over the last 48 hours, this system has encountered very favorable conditions for rapid intensification including low wind shear, very warm water temperatures and favorable upper atmospheric conditions. From Saturday morning to Monday morning, the system strengthened from 40 mph to 155 mph thanks to these favorable conditions. This system will bring life-threatening storm surge, wind, and rain to southwestern and west-central Mexico this week, and will eventually bring additional flooding rains to Texas as well,” said Vallee (Oct. 22 10 am est.)
Hurricane warnings have been posted for Mexico’s western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including the Islas Marias, a nature reserve and federal prison.
By early Monday, Willa had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was centered about 200 miles south-southwest of the Islas Marias and 155 miles south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes moving north at seven mph.
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