(Mexico City) Hurricane Roslyn strengthened to Category 3 on Saturday, becoming a major storm as it approached the Pacific coast of Mexico where it is expected to make landfall on Sunday, the US weather service said.
Posted at 8:48 a.m.
Roslynpassed into category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale which has 5, “continues to intensify rapidly” and is about 270 km from the port city of Manzanillo, adds the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 5 o’clock point.
“Additional reinforcement is expected today,” continues the NHC. “Although a weakening is possible from this evening, Roslyn should remain near or at major hurricane strength when it makes landfall on Sunday.
“Sustained winds have increased to 195 km / h, with higher gusts,” said the NHC. The hurricane is tracking northwest but is expected to turn north and northeast later Saturday and Sunday as it approaches central Mexico.
The NHC warned of the danger of flash flooding and landslides related to the hurricane.
“A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and east of where the eye will make landfall,” according to the US agency.
The authorities have placed the states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa on preventive alert.
Tropical cyclones hit Mexico every year, usually from May to November, on its Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
In October 1997, more than 200 people were killed during the passage of the hurricane Paulinacategory 4, on the Pacific coast of Mexico.