by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:45 AM ET, Wed October 25, 2023
Hurricane Otis made landfall on the Pacific Coast of Mexico at midnight on Wednesday morning as a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest the western coast of Mexico has seen in recorded history.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Otis has since been downgraded, but still poses a massive threat from Puerto Maldonado to Zihuantanejo, bringing with it devastating winds, a strong storm surge and heavy rain that can easily turn into flooding and landslides.
“Damaging hurricane-force winds will spread inland over southern Mexico this morning with extremely destructive winds near the core during the next few hours,” said the report. “Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.”
Maximum sustained winds are around 110 mph, with rainfall expected to be around 8-16 inches, with maximum rainfall predicted to be around 20 inches across Guerrero and parts of Oaxaca.
NOAA predicts Otis to dissipate over southern Mexico later tonight, though heavy rains are expected to continue into Thursday.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Mexico issued a travel advisory on October 23 for Americans in the regions of Guerrero and Oaxaca to stand by, practice safe hurricane precautions, remain in contact with loved ones and keep up-to-date on Hurricane Otis.
Hurricane Otis is the second hurricane to reach Mexico’s Pacific Coast this week. This past Saturday, Hurricane Norma passed over Los Cabos in Baja California Sur as a Category 2 hurricane in what's expected to be a busier hurricane season than usual in the Pacific, prompting airlines to waive change fees for impacted travelers.
As of 8:00 a.m. CST, FlightAware.com doesn’t currently show any impacted flights caused by Hurricane Otis.
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