Hurricane Willa - LIVE: ‘Life-threatening’ Category 5 storm on track to hit Mexico with Texas also under threat

The 'extremely dangerous' storm is expected to hit Mexico's western coastline by Wednesday

US Coast Guard video shows destruction caused by Hurricane Michael on Florida coastline

Hurricane Willa has developed into a life-threatening storm as it barrels towards west Mexico in the eastern Pacific ocean.

The hurricane intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday afternoon as it was expected to make landfall Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, prompting the governments of Sinaloa and Nayarit to prepare emergency shelters. Meanwhile, the US National Hurricane Centre has warned Hurricane Willa may "produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of southwestern and west-central Mexico beginning on Tuesday."

The potentially catastrophic storm could also produce "extremely dangerous" conditions like storm surge and rip tides along Mexico’s coastline, forecasters warned early Monday, as Hurricane Willa sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. The western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa states could see up to 18 inches of rain, along with parts of western Jalisco.

Follow along with our live coverage of Hurricane Willa.

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Key Points

• Hurricane Willa shows 'rapid intensification' as it barrels towards western Mexico
• The storm quickly became a Category 5 hurricane by Monday afternoon
• Mexico's western coastline could expect storm surge and heavy rainfall

[22 October 2018 14:41 · Chris Riotta]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage on Hurricane Willa as the storm approaches Mexico's western coastline. Please provide a moment for the live blog to load as updates arrive throughout the day. 

[22 October 2018 14:41 · Chris Riotta]

Hurricane Willa maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (255 kph) — the same windspeed Hurricane Michael had at landfall in Florida — and was centered about 230 miles (370 kilometers) south of the Islas Marias and 175 miles (280 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes. It was moving north at 7 mph (11 kph).

Hurricane force winds extended 30 miles (45 kilometers) from the storm's core and tropical storm force winds were up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) out.

The hurricane centre said 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain should fall — and some places could see up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) — on parts of western Jalisco, western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa states. It warned of the danger of flash flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.

AP

[22 October 2018 14:42 · Chris Riotta]

Hurricane Willa was expected to develop into a Category 5 storm by Monday afternoon as it continued on its path towards Mexico. The potentially catastrophic storm arrives amid one of the most act hurricane seasons in the eastern Pacific Ocean since 1971. 

[22 October 2018 14:57 · Chris Riotta]

The storm sustained winds of 155 miles per hour by early Monday, up from just 40 miles per hour nearly 48 hours earlier, according to the US National Weather Service. The agency warned on Twitter that Hurricane Willa “Willa is another example of rapid intensification in a tropical cyclone.  Wind shear will weaken the storm slightly before landfall [Tuesday], but Willa will bring life-threatening storm surge and winds to the Mexico coast."

[22 October 2018 15:10 · Chris Riotta]

A hurricane warning was posted for Mexico's western coast between San Blas and Mazatlan, including the Islas Marias, a nature reserve and federal prison directly in the forecast track of Hurricane Willa.

Tropical storm warnings ranged from Playa Perula north to San Blas and from Mazatlan north to Bahia Tempehuaya. The center said Willa is expected make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

AP

[22 October 2018 15:30 · Chris Riotta]

Hurricane Willa could potentially threaten parts of Texas as the near-Category 5 storm barrels towards west Mexico, with analysts predicting it could make landfall as early as Tuesday night. 

Texas was badly hit with flooding last week after the Buchanan dam opened, as seen in the video below. More heavy rainfall for the region could produce major damage. 

[22 October 2018 15:50 · Chris Riotta]

As Hurricane Willa continues strengthening in the eastern Pacific Ocean, analysts warn the near-Category 5 hurricane could be intense when it reaches landfall by Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. 

[22 October 2018 16:10 · Chris Riotta]

Hurricane Willa was previously expected to make landfall as a Category 4 storm, but the quickly intensifying hurricane has sustained winds just two miles per hour short of being considered a Category 5 hurricane. 

The storm was expected to make landfall in the San Cayetano area, causing heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening floods to surrounding areas. 

[22 October 2018 16:30 · Chris Riotta]

Here’s how Hurricane Willa could impact Texas as it makes landfall as either a Category 4 or Category 5 storm by early Wednesday. The storm arrives amid an unusually active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific Ocean. 

[22 October 2018 16:50 · Chris Riotta]

The US National Hurricane Centre estimated that total rainfall would range from 5 to 15 inches (12.5 cm to 38.1 cm) across stretches of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states, home to the white sand beach resorts of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Vicente, which formed in the Pacific off southern Mexico on Saturday, began to weaken while hovering along the southern Mexican coast on Sunday and by early Monday was located about 195 miles (310 km) southeast of Acapulco.

It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and the center of the storm would likely remain just offshore or near the southern coast of Mexico through Tuesday morning, according to the NHC.

Reuters