DailyExpertNews
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Rapidly intensifying Category 4 Hurricane Orlene is approaching western Mexico, where it is expected to cause life-threatening flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, swept north at 7 mph on Sunday morning, about 275 miles south of Las Islas Marias, Mexico, the center said. Las Islas Marias – an archipelago about 60 miles off the mainland coast – is expected to experience hurricane conditions Sunday evening.
Orlene is expected to reach the coast of mainland Mexico Monday or Monday evening just south of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, where life-threatening flash flooding is a concern, according to Mexico’s CONAGUA agency.
Orlene’s sustained wind speed has increased since late Saturday when the storm was at Category 2 intensity.
“Some additional strengthening is forecast this morning, followed by a weakening that begins later in the day and continues until touchdown,” the Hurricane Center said early Sunday.
The storm is expected to cause heavy downpours, storm surge and landslides along the coast of western Mexico. The region is expected to face 3 to 5 inches of rain, with local amounts of up to 10 inches.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Las Islas Marias and the coast of mainland Mexico from San Blas to Mazatlán. A hurricane watch is in place off the coast of mainland Mexico from Playa Perula to San Blas and from Mazatlán to Bahia Tempehuaya, including the city of Puerto Vallarta.
A tropical storm warning is in effect off the coast of mainland Mexico from Playa Perula to San Blas. A tropical storm is in effect off the coast of mainland Mexico from Manzanillo to Playa Perula.
Residents in the hurricane’s path are advised to take extreme precautions due to the potential for life-threatening flooding, winds and dangerous rip currents.
Orlene storms into Mexico just weeks after Hurricane Kay made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane off the west coast of the central Baja California peninsula.