MEXICO CITY, Oct. 22 (BNA) Mexican emergency officials are scrambling to finish preparations Saturday as Hurricane Roslin, a powerful Category 4 storm, heads toward tourist areas along the country’s Pacific coast with landfall expected by morning, the US National Hurricane Center. (NHC) said.
Rosslyn is expected to move north on Saturday as it approaches western central Mexico before making landfall along the coast of Nayarit on Sunday morning, causing damaging winds, major storms and major coastal flooding.
Nayarit is home to popular beach destinations like Sayulita and Punta Mita.
Maximum wind speeds were near 130 mph (215 km/h), and up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain was expected along the northern coast of Jalisco state, which borders Nayarit. According to Reuters, up to 8 inches of rain is expected on the upper coast of Colima and west of Nayarit.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast from Playa Perola to Esquinaba and Las Islas Marias.
The Miami-based meteorologist said that although some weakening was possible Saturday night, the hurricane is expected to remain near severe hurricane strength or when it makes landfall.
Some beaches have been closed and emergency shelters opened for evacuees in coastal areas of Nayarit and Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta and La Huerta, according to officials.
A video posted by Mexico’s Civil Protection Agency on Twitter showed violent waves crashing into a beach in Nayarit, with a warning to stay out of the water.
The commission said the heavy rainfall could lead to flash floods and possible landslides in areas of rugged terrain over the southwestern coast and western central Mexico.
It added that preparations to protect life and property “must be expedited to be completed” for areas subject to cyclone warnings.
The National Health Commission said Roslin could cause “life-threatening waves and rupture current conditions” from the coast of western central Mexico and the southern part of the Baja California peninsula.
HF