National Hurricane Center said 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.Ī hurricane warning was posted for Mexico’s western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including the Islas Marias, a nature reserve and federal prison directly in the forecast track of the storm. The governments of Sinaloa and Nayarit states ordered coastal region schools to close on Monday and began preparing emergency shelters ahead of the onslaught. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.MEXICO CITY (AP) - 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 by Wednesday. Surf: Large swells generated by Willa will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico during the next few days. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning areas by tonight and Tuesday. Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area beginning Tuesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected by Tuesday morning. This rainfall will cause life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.įarther inland, Willa is expected to produce rainfall amount of 2 to 4 inches across portions of Zacateca, Durango, southeast Chihuahua, and Coahuila in Mexico, with local amounts to 6 inches possible. This rainfall could cause life-threatening flash flooding. Rainfall: Willa is expected to produce storm total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with local amounts to 18 inches, across portions of western Jalisco, western Nayarit, and southern Sinaloa in Mexico. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Storm surge: An extremely dangerous storm surge is likely along portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico by Tuesday or Tuesday night, especially near and to the south of where the center of Willa makes landfall. Hazards affecting land from Hurricane Willa Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. More: Hurricane off Mexico spins toward Category 5 status in Pacific Lucie sheriff's deputies' tasks after Hurricane Michael More: Anti-looting, peace-keeping part of St. Slight weakening is forecast to begin on Tuesday, but Willa is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the coast of Mexico. Some strengthening is still possible today. Willa is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Satellite data indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 mph, with higher gusts. Willa is forecast to accelerate toward the north-northeast and move over or very near the Islas Marias early Tuesday and make landfall along the southwestern coast of mainland Mexico in the hurricane warning area Tuesday afternoon or evening. Willa is moving toward the north near 7 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue today. Spaghetti models: Projected paths for active storms Location: 175 miles south-southwest of Islas Marias, MexicoĪt 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Willa was located 175 miles south-southwest of Islas Marias, Mexico.Willa is expected to produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of west-central and southwestern Mexico. Hurricane Willa is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane. The 2018 hurricane season lasts through Nov. In the Atlantic, all is quiet and nothing is forecast to develop over the next two days. Willa could strengthen even more before landfall. Less than two weeks after Hurricane Michael made landfall at Mexico Beach in Florida as a category 4 storm packing 155-mph winds, Hurricane Willa is approaching Mexico with 160-mph winds.

Willa hurricane track