Hurricane Orlene lost some power on Sunday but remained a dangerous Category 3 storm as it headed for Mexico’s northwestern Pacific coast between the resort towns of Mazatlan and San Blas.
After becoming a hurricane on Saturday, Orlene quickly strengthened to a Category 4 category with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour (215 kilometers per hour) early Sunday, according to the US National Hurricane Center. their initials in English). By noon, however, the storm’s maximum wind speeds had decreased to 115 mph (185 km/h).
The meteor passed over or next to the Islas Marías, a former prison colony that is being developed to receive tourists. The largest island, called María Madre, has a sparse population made up mostly of government employees, and buildings are made of brick or concrete.
The forecast indicates that Orlene will impact the Mexican Pacific coast on Monday in a sparsely populated and lagoon-filled stretch south of Mazatlán.
By Sunday night, Orlene’s vortex was about 125 kilometers (80 miles) west-northwest of Cabo Corrientes, located a short distance south of Puerto Vallarta, and was moving north at 13 km/h ( 8mph).
There is a hurricane watch in effect from San Blas to Mazatlán.
The government of the state of Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, suspended classes Monday in coastal towns and cities. The entity’s civil protection office published a video showing strong waves hitting a pier in Cabo Corrientes.
In Sinaloa, where Mazatlán is, some emergency shelters were set up.
The NHC said the storm may begin to weaken as it approaches the coast, although it is still projected to make landfall as a hurricane.
The meteor could cause flooding and rainfall of up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) in some places, as well as coastal flooding and dangerous storm surge.
The ports of Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta were closed to larger ships, and the Mexican Navy announced that the ports of Mazatlán, San Blas and Nuevo Vallarta were closed to small boats.
The National Water Commission indicated that Orlene could cause landslides and flooding in low-lying areas, and raise the levels of rivers and streams.
The NHC noted that hurricane-force winds extended about 30 kilometers (15 miles) from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds reached about 110 kilometers (70 miles).
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