Hurricane Orlene Expected to Hit Western Mexico by Monday
Hurricane Orlene, a Category 3 hurricane, is headed for western Mexico and could bring significant winds, high tides and rainfall to the region as early as Sunday night, forecasters said.
The storm was about 115 miles southwest of Las Islas Marías, an archipelago of four islands, and was moving north. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday afternoon. Orlene has maximum sustained winds of about 115 mph, with stronger gusts.
Category 3 hurricanes are considered major hurricanes and have wind speeds between 111 and 129 mph
Forecasters say Orlene will be a “strong storm” that will most likely pass near or over the archipelago on Sunday night or Monday morning before reaching the Mexican mainland coast.
A hurricane warning has been posted for Las Islas Marías and the coast of mainland Mexico, from San Blas to Mazatlán, meaning stormy conditions were expected in those areas, the center said.
“Preparations to protect lives and property need to be completed urgently,” the center said.
Orlene is expected to cause flash flooding and possible landslides across southwestern Mexico through Tuesday, the center said. Las Islas Marías can catch up to 14 inches of rain.
Forecasters say a dangerous high tide and major floods could pose a surf hazard and destroy existing conditions.
Orlene is The 15th storm is named will form in the Eastern Pacific this year. The Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and runs through November 30 National Hurricane Center.
Five named storms, including Orlene, formed last month. One of them, Tropical Cyclone Kay, briefly attained hurricane status, made landfall on the coast of the Baja California peninsula in early September. Orlene’s tropical storm to hurricane status changed Saturday.