This satellite image provided by NOAA on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, shows Hurricane Otis approaching Mexico’s Pacific coast near Acapulco.

NOAA via AP

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Otismade landfallearly Wednesday morning near Acapulco, which is home to more than 1 million people, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 165 mph.

Otis wascategorized as a tropical stormon Sunday but began rapidly strengthening less than 24 hours before slamming into Mexico, according to the NHC. By about 10:45 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, the storm was afull-blown Category 5monster.

The NHC described Otis’ rapid intensification as a “nightmare scenariofor southern Mexico.” They warned of “life-threatening hurricane-force winds” and “potentially catastrophic storm surge” that could lead to “life-threatening coastal flooding.”

“This is an extremely serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area,” the NHC said in an update late Tuesday night.

Beach in Acapulco, Mexico, ahead of Hurricane Otis' landfall.FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty

People stand on the beach after Hurricane Otis' arrival alert in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on October 24, 2023.

FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty

Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist in the atmospheric science department at Colorado State University, toldCNNthat Otis is the fastest intensifying hurricane in a 12-hour period in Eastern Pacific history.

Otis is the first hurricane on record to hit this portion of Mexico at this intensity. The storm tops Hurricane Patricia, which hit the area in 2015 as a Category 4 storm.

Patricia made landfall with winds of 150 mph, but unlike Otis, hit low-population areas, CNN reported.

By 7 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, Otis had beendowngraded to a Category 2storm with maximum wind speeds of 110 mph, according to the NHC.

Police officer guards beach in Acapulco, Mexico, ahead of Hurricane Otis.FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty

A municipal police officer stands guard before the arrival of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on October 24, 2023

Otis is expected to continue rapidly weakening as it moves farther inland, and forecasters expect it to dissipate over southern Mexico on Wednesday night.

By the end of the storm, Otis is expected to drop between 8 to 16 inches of rain, with some areas receiving as much as 20 inches, across Guerrero and the western coastal sections of Oaxaca on Thursday.

Flash and urban flooding are still of concern, as are mudslides in higher terrains. Life-threatening rip currents and surf are expected to last through Thursday.

source: people.com