Hurricane Orlene, which had strengthened in the morning, rose from Category 4 to 3 as it approached the Pacific coast of Mexico, where it was headed, according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC).
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On a scale of out of 5, Orlene is a Category 3 hurricane and was located 135 kilometers southwest of Cabo Corrientes in the western state of Jalisco and 185 kilometers from the Tres Marias Islands, according to an NHC report published at was published at 8 p.m
Stronger in the morning and described as “extremely dangerous”, it weakened during the day but is progressing faster northbound at 13 km/h and blowing continuous winds measured at 185 km/h.
But Orlene could regain strength by flying by “near or over the Tres Marias Islands (…) tonight (Sunday) or Monday morning” before heading towards mainland Mexico, the NHC explained.
However, according to the National Water Commission (Conagua), which predicts Orlene will make landfall between the states of Sinaloa and Nayarit (east), it should arrive overnight Monday through Tuesday before weakening further advances in the country.
The hurricane brought “intense rains” from the south to the north of the Mexican coast, accompanied by “strong winds and strong waves,” the Civil Protection Bureau said on Twitter, which urged residents of risk areas to take shelter in makeshift shelters. especially in the west and north-west of the country.
The navy meanwhile closed ports in the states of Nayarit and Jalisco.
Mexico’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts are prone to hurricanes each year, usually between May and November. In October 1997, more than 200 people were killed when Paulina passed the Pacific coast.