(CNN) — The hurricane Agatha made landfall in southern Mexico on Monday, according to the most recent report from the US National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Agatha made landfall just west of Puerto Angel in southern Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center. At landfall Monday followingnoon, Agatha was a Category 2 hurricane with 168 km/h winds. Agatha will continue to produce high winds, dangerous storm surge and torrential rain as it slowly moves inland over the next 24 hours.
Since recordkeeping began in 1949, this is the strongest hurricane to make landfall in May along Mexico’s Pacific coast, says the CNH.
4pm CDT 30 May – #Hurricane #Agatha has made landfall just west of Puerto Angel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.
Since record keeping began in 1949, this is the strongest hurricane to make landfall in May along the Pacific coast of Mexico. pic.twitter.com/dUraseRoDe
— NHC Eastern Pacific (@NHC_Pacific) May 30, 2022
According to the entity, strong winds and heavy rains occur in the state of Oaxaca.
According to the hurricane center, Agatha is expected to weaken rapidly following landfall and “dissipate over southeastern Mexico by Tuesday night.”
The State Civil Protection Coordination of Oaxaca warned that before the impact “its wide circulation and cloud bands will generate extraordinary rains in a large part of the state, but particularly in the Coast, Isthmus, Mixteca, Sierra Sur, Cuenca del Papaloapan and Sierra Norte and of variable intensity in the Cañada and Central Valleys”. “Strong gusts of wind along the coastline, high waves and storm surges” are also expected.
The entity also highlighted that “waves of 6 to 8 meters high are expected from Pinotepa Nacional to San Mateo del Mar,” as well as an increase in the levels of rivers and streams, landslides and flash floods.
Agatha it intensified rapidly and is approaching the category of major hurricane, while advancing to the southern coast of Mexico. This is the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific season.
hurricane watch
There is a hurricane warning from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Salina Cruz east to Boca de Pijijiapan and Lagunas de Chacahua west to Punta Maldonado.
“Storm surge might produce coastal flooding near and to the east of where (the hurricane’s) center passes the coast in areas of onshore winds,” the National Hurricane Center said. “The storm surge can be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”
In addition to storm surge, heavy rain from Agatha will hit parts of southern Mexico through Tuesday night.
“The heaviest rain is forecast throughout the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where 10 to 16 inches (25 to 40 centimeters) are expected, but isolated totals of up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) are possible,” said the official. hurricane center.
The remnants of Agatha may contribute to the gradual development of a tropical system in the “extreme southwestern Gulf of Mexico by midweek or in the northwestern Caribbean by the end of this week,” according to the National Hurricane Center. “Regardless of development, local heavy rains will be possible in southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala and Belize throughout the week.”
With information from Taylor Ward.
