Hurricane Agatha intensified in the peaceful waters of Mexico on Sunday, heading to the southwest coast of the country, where it could become a Category 3 cyclone, according to forecasts from the Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN).
Hours earlier, the United States’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) had classified Agatha category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with 5 gradations.
At 4 pm local time, Agatha climbed into category 2 and was 295 km southwest of Puerto Angel in Mexico, with winds reaching 175 km/h, while moving northeast at a speed of 4 km/h, according to the latest report from NHC.
High sea temperatures of more than 31 degrees Celsius off the coasts of Oaxaca and Guerrero states in southern Mexico and slow motion could push Agatha up to category 3, with winds reaching 200 km / h, it is estimated by Alejandra Méndez, a manager of NMS.
” The storm is expected to landfall in Category 3 between Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, Oaxaca. “
He and the National Hurricane Center expect the impact Monday morning.
Fears of floods and landslides
The storm will bring heavy rains to areas of Chiapas and Oaxaca states (south) and areas of nearby Guerrero and Tabasco states (southeast), the official said. NMS.
It will also boost the inflow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, bringing heavy rainfall to the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatan, located on the country’s east coast.
Rainfall can cause landslides, rising river levels and floodingwarned the NMS.
Mexico is hit by tropical storms along its Pacific and Atlantic coasts each year, usually between May and November.
Source: Radio-Canada
