Hurricane Agatha is first named storm of Atlantic season after hitting Mexico with 105mph winds
Forecasters warn of life-threatening flash-flooding and mudslides in southern Mexico over the next few days
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hurricane season got underway on Monday with the strongest storm ever to make landfall in the month of May.
Hurricane Agatha slammed into a coastal region in southern Mexico as a Category-2 storm with sustained winds of 105mph.
Heavy rains are continuing over parts of southern Mexico, posing a threat of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides for the next few days, the US National Hurricane Center reported.
A report early on Tuesday said that the remnants of Agatha will move inland over southern Mexico with maximum wind speeds dropping to 30mph. The storm is expected to weaken throughout the day.
However Agatha will produce heavy rains over portions of southern Mexico through Tuesday evening. In the Mexican state of Oaxaca, 10 to 16 inches were expected with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches possible. In Chiapas, 5 to 10 inches of rain was forecast, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches possible.
Swells generated by Agatha are also expected to impact the coastline of southern Mexico through Tuesday, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Agatha is the first named hurricane of the Atlantic season which forecasters expect to be an above-average year.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported last week that 2022 would be the seventh year in a row with a higher-than-average number of hurricanes.
NOAA predicts there will be up to 21 named storms, where wind speeds over 39mph, with six to ten becoming hurricanes, with winds more than 74 mph.
Part of the reason is the ongoing La Niña phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, which can increase hurricane frequency in the Atlantic. In addition, the agency blames warmer surface water temperatures on the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which can help power up a storm’s intensity.
Hurricane season begins in June and usually peaks in early autumn. The average season has around 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three hurricanes at Category 3 or stronger.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments