Hurricane season kicks off on time with “Agatha”, heading straight for the beaches of Mexico

by time news

Agatha, the first hurricane of the season that begins this June 1, it was about to make landfall on monday along a stretch of resorts and fishing villages on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, amid warnings of dangerous storm surge and flooding due to heavy rains.

After reaching hurricane strength on Sunday, Agatha quickly strengthened and is forecast to make landfall. the Monday in the afternoon or the night with category 2 forcereported the US National Hurricane Center.

The eye of the meteor was heading towards an area near the towns of Puerto Escondido and Puerto Ángel, in the south of the state of Oaxaca, a region that includes the tourist communities of Huatulco, Mazunte and Zipolite.

Early Monday, the Center reported that Agatha had maximum sustained winds of 175 km / hjust 1.6 km/h (1 mph) below category 3. Its vortex was located about 110 kilometers southwest of Puerto Ángel and was moving heading northeast a 9 km/h (6 mph).

The center said to expect little change before Agatha makes landfall. A hurricane warning is in effect between the port of Salina Cruz and the Chacahua lagoons.

The State Coordination of Civil Protection of Oaxaca published images on Sunday of fishermen mooring their boats on the beach to protect them from the storm, while the outer bands of the hurricane they had already begun to hit the shoreline.

People protect windows before the arrival of the hurricane in Puerto Escondido.  Photo: Reuters

People protect windows before the arrival of the hurricane in Puerto Escondido. Photo: Reuters

closed beaches

The municipal authorities of Huatulco ordered the absolute closure of all beaches from the tourist center, including its famous seven bays, many of which are only accessible by sea. They also closed schools and began setting up shelters.

To the west, in Zipolite, a town known for its nude beach and its bohemian atmosphere, the staff of the small Casa Kalmar hotel collected all the beach furniture and installed wooden shutters to prevent the strong winds from smashed doors and windows. “The biggest concern here is the air, the wind,” said the hotel manager, Silvia Ranfagni.

With just one guest and many cancellations Because of the hurricane, Ranfagni planned to await Agatha’s arrival at the property, which is located three or four blocks from the beach.

The outer bands of the hurricane are already hitting parts of Mexico.  Photo: Reuters

The outer bands of the hurricane are already hitting parts of Mexico. Photo: Reuters

“I’m going to be locked up here with my animals,” she said, referring to her dog and cats.

The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga _a former slaughterhouse turned conservation center in Mazunte_ announced it will be closed to visitors until further notice due to the arrival of the hurricane.

destructive waves

The Hurricane Center warned of dangerous coastal flooding y destructive waves near the area where Agatha will make landfall. She said she expected the meteor to drop 10 to 16 inches (250 to 400 millimeters) of rain in parts of Oaxaca, with isolated highs of 20 inches (500 millimeters).

The Hurricane Center warned of dangerous coastal flooding and destructive storm surge.  Photo: Reuters

The Hurricane Center warned of dangerous coastal flooding and destructive storm surge. Photo: Reuters

Gusts of 215 km per hour

The cyclone, which formed this Sunday in the Pacific, is moving northwest at 9 kilometers per hour while developing sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour and streaks of 215.

The SMN forecasts extraordinary torrential rains in Oaxaca for the next few hours.

Hurricane Agatha will enter the Pacific coast.  Photo: AP

Hurricane Agatha will enter the Pacific coast. Photo: AP

It also expects intense punctual rains (75 to 150 millimeters) in Chiapas, Tabasco, Guerrero and Veracruz and heavy to very heavy rains (50 to 75 millimeters) in Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

Likewise, he warned that there will be wind gusts of more than 120 kilometers per hour on the coast of Oaxaca, and more than 80 kilometers per hour in Guerrero and Chiapas, as well as waves of 4 to 6 meters on the coasts of both states.

For this reason, the SMN exhorted the population of the aforementioned states to take extreme precautions against rain, wind and waves (including maritime navigation) and meet the recommendations issued by the National Civil Protection System.

AP and EFE

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