By The newspaper
01 Nov 2023, 8:30 PM EDT
In an unprecedented demonstration of the force of nature, Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 giant, left Mexico in ruins.
Otis hit with a powerful 205 MPH wind gust, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, including 80% of the hospitality sector. The impact was so significant that Otis is now considered the strongest hurricane to ever hit the west coast of Mexico, according to The Washington Post.
It is worth mentioning that the consequences are grim and could grow even more, with more than 40 lives lost and damage expected to exceed $10 billion, according to a Post report.
Otis: An amazing gust of wind
During Hurricane Otis’ stormy landfall, a weather station near Acapulco recorded a staggering 205 MPH wind gust. While this measurement is still preliminary, it has the potential to be among the top 10 wind gusts ever recorded worldwide.
Authorities such as the National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) often validate these extreme observations through extensive post-storm analysis.
The highest wind gust ever recorded globally is 253 MPH, observed on Barrow Island in Australia during Tropical Cyclone Olivia on April 10, 1996, the World Meteorological Organization reported.
Prior to this, Mount Washington held the record with a gust of 231 MPH on April 12, 1934. Notably, a month ago during Typhoon Koinu, a gust of 213 MPH was measured on Orchid Island in Taiwan.
Surprisingly, these extreme winds often escape documentation due to their ability to damage or destroy instrumentation. In the case of Hurricane Otis, the weather station, managed by the National Tidal Service, “was the only element that remained completely standing” near the observation site. The agency’s account on X (previously known as Twitter) revealed the station’s resilience, as the entire perimeter fence disappeared.
In this photo we can see the before and after of our station located in ASIPONA, thanks to the high quality with which we built our instruments, it was the only element to remain completely standing, since the entire perimeter fence disappeared. pic.twitter.com/ogcQmjQ0dS
— National Tidal Service UNAM (@SMareograficoN) October 30, 2023
The story of Hurricane Otis surprised meteorologists when it became a Category 5 hurricane in a surprisingly short period of time. Its winds increased to a remarkable 90 MPH in just 12 hours and increased to 115 MPH in just 24 hours, culminating in landfall with maximum sustained winds of 165 MPH in Acapulco.
This rapid intensification caught meteorologists off guard, as most computer models had initially predicted that Otis would simply be a Category 1 hurricane. The unexpected elevation to Category 5 only compounded the challenge, considering the hurricane’s proximity. to a densely populated area.
As the storm’s fury left a trail of destruction, the death toll rose to at least 46. Many people remained missing, compounding the anguish.
Acapulco and its surrounding areas faced major power and communications outages, paralyzed public transportation, limited telephone service, and severe food and water shortages.
The damage was extensive: around 274,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Additionally, approximately 120 hospitals and clinics were damaged, while nearly 600 hotels and condominiums were also negatively affected.
Keep reading:
· Hurricane Otis: Mexico estimates investment of $3.4 billion dollars for repairs
· In Acapulco, Hurricane Otis caused damage to 80% of the hotel sector
· Hurricane Otis: The number rises to 48 dead and 36 missing in Acapulco, Mexico