Strongest ever recorded hurricane bears down on Mexico to end the week as a potentially catastrophic event. This category 5 hurricane will make landfall in under 12 hours
Monster hurricane Patricia is currently heading towards the southwest coast of Mexico. Patricia had a central low pressure of 880mb, this is the lowest recorded cyclone for 30 years and comparable to Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the Philippines in 2013. It is the strongest ever recorded hurricane for the NHC (National Hurricane Centre) ever, who have responsibility for the east Pacific and the Atlantic. The majority of the UK is sitting near 1020mb with a high to the south and we are worrying slightly about a low pressure early next week which will have a central pressure around 976mb, the UK lowest ever 925.6mb. Patricia has 200mph sustained winds, not gusts, continuing wind. Gusts are near to 250mph. For the UK the highest ever gust at low level was 142mph in Aberdeenshire and 173mph at the summit of Cairngorm.
From the 1449Z update from the NHC "it is expected that Patricia will make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in southwestern Mexico in less than 12 hours.” "Confidence is high that Patricia will make landfall in the hurricane warning area along the coast of Mexico as an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane this afternoon or evening."
The catastrophic category 5 winds are expected to span an area 15-30 miles wide. The storm surge, along the coast near to and east of where the centre makes landfall, is also forecast to be catastrophic. Coastal erosion, rip currents, massive waves. Evacuations have been taking place through Thursday and now Friday.
More widespread impacts will come from the very heavy rainfall as Patricia moves inland, weakening but still bringing torrential downpours resulting in flash flooding and mudslides. This area does have mountainous terrain which will weaken Patricia quickly but also add to the threat of landslip. The Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero look to be worst hit. These areas are near to Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta but NW of Acapulco
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