Hurricane Agatha Threatens Mexico and Its Tourist Towns

Hurricane Agatha is expected to make landfall on Monday in Mexico near the town of Mazunte.

Washington Post reported that the National Hurricane Center warned that the storm could bring "dangerous" coastal flooding and "life-threatening hurricane-force winds" near where it makes landfall.

The agency also warned that "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides" are possible as the storm crosses southern Mexico. The area is likely to see up to 20 inches of rain.

A hurricane warning is in effect between Salina Cruz and Lagunas de Chacahua Mexico. Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings are across the stretches of the coastline on either side.

Hurricane Center declared that the storm was "rapidly strengthening" its peak winds up to 85 miles per hour.

Hurricane Agatha in Mexico

The National Hurricane Center in Florida said that Hurricane Agatha is forecast to become a "major hurricane" once it reaches the coast of southern Mexico on Monday.

Channel News Asia noted that the Hurrican Agatha was located about 300 kilometers southwest of Puerto Angel.

The NHC said that storm surge is expected to produce extremely dangerous coastal flooding.

Authorities in Oaxaca have set up 200 shelters along the coastal region with the capacity to shelter 26,000 people, according to local Civil Protection.

Mexico and Its Tourist Towns Before The Storm

The NHC said that Hurricane Agatha could have winds of 120 miles per hour when it makes landfall, as reported by Associated Press News report.

Municipal authorities in Huatulco ordered the "absolute closure" of all the resort's beaches and its famous "seven bays," many of which are reachable only by boat.

In addition, authorities closed local schools and started setting up emergency storm shelters.

In Zipolite, personnel at the small Casa Kalmar hotel gathered up outdoor furniture and installed wooden storm shutters to prevent strong winds from blowing out glass windows and doors.

Hotel manager Silvia Ranfagni said that the biggest worry in the area is the wind.

Ranfagni intends to ride out Hurricane Agatha at the property, with only one guest and several cancellations due to the storm.

Ranfagni said that she is going to shut herself inside with her animals, referring to her dogs and cats.

Mexican Turtle Center, a former slaughterhouse turned conservation center in Mazunte, announced that it was closed to visitors until further notice due to the hurricane.

The hurricane center said that there was a chance that the storm's remnants could reemerge over the Gulf of Mexico due to the storm's current path carrying it over the narrow waist of Mexico's isthmus.

Hurricane Agatha was projected to become the first storm of the 2022 eastern Pacific hurricane season.

The heaviest rain is predicted across the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where 10 to 16 inches are expected.

However, isolated rains totaling up to 20 inches are possible. It was initially seen as a tropical storm, which gradually became a hurricane on Sunday before making landfall over the southern coast of Mexico on Monday.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Hurricane Agatha update: Pacific storm heading for Mexico landfall - from KHOU 11