Hurricane Norma, Now Hurricane Otis Causing Chaos in Mexico

Last week Hurricane Norma blew across the Baja Peninsula creating havoc in Cabo San Lucas and East Cape on the typically calm Sea of Cortez. But now Hurricane Otis has made landfall as a Category 5 Hurricane near Acapulco.

“We got hit pretty hard at Tailhunter International in La Paz, Baja, Mexico,” said Jonathan Roldan (Owner Tailhunter International sport fishing charter/destination resort and restaurant). “We’re digging out here. Norma really did a number on us after almost three days of getting pummeled.

“About 60% of the city is still without water or power, including our Tailhunter Restaurant which got pretty torn up and we lost part of the front of the building,” added Roldan. “We saw lots of damage all over town including hotels, restaurants, homes and all the marinas got wrecked with lots of boats damaged or sunk. It’s going to take a while, but we’ll get it figured out.”

“About 60% of the city is still without water or power, including our Tailhunter Restaurant which got pretty torn up and we lost part of the front of the building,” added Roldan.

“We saw lots of damage all over town including hotels, restaurants, homes and all the marinas got wrecked with lots of boats damaged or sunk. It’s going to take a while, but we’ll get it figured out.”

Now in Acapulco (mainland Mexico), Otis, a separate hurricane, just made landfall as a Category 5 storm.
What’s unique about Otis, forecasting experts reported Otis intensified its wind speed by 110 MPH in 24 hours, surpassing the standard definition of the term “intensified” which typically means wind increased by 35 MPH in 24 hours. (Otis image via National Hurricane Center)

Otis now threatens a coastline that is also lined with many fishing villages and beach resorts as they gear up for winter season. Acapulco itself, is a large port city and a popular tourist spot and home to more than 850,000 people, according to the Mexican Government and the New York Times.
 
“This is an extremely serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area,” said the National Hurricane Center.
 
FEMA is watching Hurricane Otis closely but doesn’t feel there are any threats to the gulf. However, damage like roofs ripped off homes and broken windows are being reported in Acapulco and 70 miles northeast in Chilpancingo, only minor damage has been seen so far.
 
Mexican authorities are expecting as much as 10 inches of rain in the state of Guerrero. The country’s National Meteorological Service said the hurricane quickly downgraded to a category 1 storm as it moved inland.
 
A storm like this demonstrates how fragile the power grid is. Whether it’s a hurricane in Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, or Florida, an ice storm in the Northeast, a blizzard in Colorado or a wildfire started by downed power lines in California, having standby power in the form of an industrial generator is key to weathering the storm.

Story Summary

What was unique about Hurricane Otis?
Hurricane Otis underwent an extremely rapid intensification, increasing its wind speeds by 110 mph in just 24 hours. This far exceeded the typical definition of rapid intensification, which is an increase of 35 mph in 24 hours. Otis went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in only 12 hours, something only a handful of storms have done globally since records began in the 1960s.

Where and when did Hurricane Otis make landfall?
Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, Mexico at approximately 1:25 AM CDT on Oct. 25, 2023. It hit as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 mph.

How strong was Hurricane Otis at landfall?
Otis made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. It had sustained winds of 165 mph and a minimum central pressure of 923 mb. This made it the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast.

What areas were most affected?
The Acapulco metropolitan area and surrounding regions in the state of Guerrero were most severely impacted. Substantial damage was reported in Acapulco and nearby areas.

What kind of damage did Hurricane Otis cause?
Otis caused catastrophic damage in Acapulco and surrounding areas. Reports indicate:

• Destruction of less resilient structures
• Substantial damage to engineered structures including reinforced concrete
• Downed trees and power lines
• Significant storm surge and coastal flooding
• Heavy rainfall leading to flooding and mudslides

How much rainfall was expected?
Rainfall totals of 8-16 inches were predicted, with local amounts up to 20 inches, bringing threats of flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of higher terrain.

How does Otis compare to previous hurricanes in the region?
Otis was the strongest hurricane to affect this part of Mexico in recorded history, surpassing the landfall strength of Hurricane Patricia in 2015. It was also the first Eastern Pacific hurricane to make landfall at Category 5 intensity.

Brian La Rue | 10/25/2023 3:16:20 PM | 0 comments
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