By Montserrat Arqué
25 Oct 2023, 1:43 PM EDT
As had not happened in a long time, Mexico was hit this Tuesday night by Hurricane Otis, a storm that hit hard on the coasts of the state of Guerrero, mainly in the port of Acapulco, upon making landfall with category 5.
Upon arrival in Acapulco, Hurricane Otis registered winds of up to 330 km/h, accompanied by torrential rains, and it is expected that in the next few hours, it will continue moving over the state of Guerrero, which will lead it to weaken as it heads towards Michoacán and the State of Mexico, where there will also be strong storms and a lot of wind.
After making landfall, Otis weakened and is now a Category 2 hurricane; However, due to its behavior, although it is believed that it will decline, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) asks the population to remain alert to any circumstance that may arise.
Landslides, increased levels of rivers and streams, overflows and floods are some of the havoc that Otis has left in its wake. The authorities asked tourists and maritime navigation in the area to take extreme precautions against high waves.
According to various meteorologists, Hurricane Otis set a new record for rapid intensification of 130 km/h, as it went from 100 to 230 km/h in just 12 hours (tropical storm to category 4 hurricane), leaving Patricia behind. in 2015, which strengthened 120 km/h in the same period, according to satellite data since 1966.
Carlos Robles, Telemundo’s head of meteorology, explained that initially, no one expected that this storm could intensify to such a degree in such a short time. In addition, he indicated that this is a sign of imminent climate change, since Otis was gaining strength as it approached the coast of Guerrero due to the warm temperature of the water in the Pacific Ocean.
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