Hurricane Willa has grown rapidly into an “extremely dangerous” near-Category 5 storm in the eastern Pacific, on a path to smash into Mexico’s western coast between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in the coming days.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said early Monday that Willa could “produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of southwestern and west-central Mexico beginning on Tuesday.” It predicted that Willa could become a Category 5 hurricane later Monday, generating life-threatening surf and rip tide conditions.
A hurricane warning was posted for Mexico’s western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including Las Islas Marias. Tropical storm warnings ranged from Playa Perula north to San Blas and from Mazatlan north to Bahia Tempehuaya. The center said Willa is expected make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
WATCH: Hurricane Willa coverage
By early Monday, Willa had maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (249 kph) and was centred about 230 miles (370 kilometres) south of Las Islas Marias and 175 miles (280 kilometres) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes. It was moving north at 7 mph (11 kph).
Hurricane force winds extended 30 miles (48 kilometres) from the storm’s core and tropical storm force winds were up to 90 miles (145 kilometres) out.
The hurricane center said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30.5 centimetres) of rain should fall — and some places could see up to 18 inches (46 centimetres) — on parts of Mexico’s western Jalisco, western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa states. It warned of the danger of flash flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.
WATCH: Global News’ past hurricane coverage
-
![]()
Hurricane Michael: Storm hunters capture view of eyewall before landfall -
![]()
Michael falls just short of category 5 hurricane, unleashes devastation along Florida panhandle -
![]()
Hurricane Michael: Space station shows Category 4 storm as it makes landfall in Florida -
![]()
Hurricane Michael: Storm hunters fly into hurricane -
![]()
Drone video shows Hurricane Michael’s impact on Mexico Beach, Florida -
![]()
Hurricane Michael: Fallen trees, devastated homes left in Hurricane’s wake -
![]()
More drones being used to make insurance assessments in wake of disasters like Hurricane Michael
Farther to the south, Tropical Storm Vicente weakened but was still expected to produce heavy rainfall and flooding over parts of southern and southwestern Mexico.
By early Monday, its core was about 195 miles (310 kilometres) southeast of Acapulco with top sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph). The hurricane center said it could produce 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 centimetres) of rain in parts of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states.
WATCH: How do hurricanes get their names?
Comments