Mexico braces for flash floods, mudslides as Hurricane Orlene closes in

Hurricane Orlene barrelled towards Mexico’s southwestern coast as a harmful Category 3 storm and is predicted to make landfall on Monday and dump torrential rains.

A crimson flag warns of harmful situations at a closed seaside as Hurricane Orlene approaches Mazatlan within the state of Sinaloa, Mexico (Reuters photograph)

Hurricane Orlene barrelled towards Mexico’s southwestern coast as a harmful Category 3 storm and is predicted to dump torrential rains whilst it’s forecast to weaken within the coming days, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated on Sunday.

Orlene, which is packing most sustained winds close to 115 miles per hour (185 km per hour), is projected to go close to or over Mexico’s Islas Marias on Sunday night time and attain the coast of mainland Mexico on Monday, the Miami-based NHC stated in its newest public advisory.

“Weakening is expected during the next day or so, however, Orlene is forecast to be a strong hurricane when it passes near or over Islas Marias, and remain a hurricane when it reaches southwestern Mexico,” the NHC famous.

Torrential rains might result in flash flooding, in addition to attainable landslides in areas of rugged terrain, it added.

Islas Marias might see 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) of rain, with native quantities of 14 inches, the Mexican states of Nayarit and Sinaloa 3 to six inches, with remoted areas of as a lot as 10 inches, and Jalisco and Colima some 1 to three inches.

The storm was at present positioned 80 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.

Authorities urged native residents to take excessive precautions because the hurricane approaches and stated there are 937 short-term shelters open if wanted.

Mexico’s civil safety company introduced on Twitter the closure of ports in Nayarit, Jalisco and Colima.

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