There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part, making it a major disaster potential for this resort town.

Reports of damages, deaths, and injuries are not readily available as the storm has isolated Acapulco and the surrounding area with phone and Internet service cut off in addition to blocked roads.

Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, early Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph, after rapidly intensifying from a tropical storm into a ferocious Category 5 storm within several hours.

The storm brought torrential rain and strong winds, causing widespread power outages and significant damage to infrastructure. Local authorities have issued evacuation orders for residents and tourists in the affected areas, urging them to seek shelter and move to higher ground. Emergency response teams are on high alert, preparing for potential rescue and relief operations. The government has declared a state of emergency in the region, mobilizing resources to mitigate the impact of the hurricane and support affected communities.

Forecasters warned ahead of landfall that “catastrophic damage” was likely. “A nightmare scenario is unfolding for southern Mexico this evening with rapidly intensifying Otis approaching the coastline,” the National Hurricane Center said in a forecast discussion late Tuesday.

Hurricane Otis - image courtesy of @tsluvbot_ via X — Hurricane Otis damage – image courtesy of @tsluvbot_ via X

The hurricane center warned in another update of “life-threatening winds and catastrophic storm surge” after reaching coastal Mexico. Heavy rainfall from Otis will produce flash and urban flooding.

The storm “explosively intensified 110 mph during the past 24 hours — a mark only exceeded in modern times by Hurricane Patricia in 2015, per the Hurricane Center. It’s forecast to remain a Category 5 hurricane through landfall Wednesday morning.

According to NHC data, the maximum sustained winds in the eastern North Pacific experienced a rapid intensification, with an increase of approximately 80 mph within a 12-hour period on Tuesday. This rate of intensification is the highest recorded during the satellite era in the region, as stated by meteorologist Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University. It is worth noting that frequent and notable instances of rapid intensification have been associated with climate change.

Hurricane warnings were in effect from Punta Maldonado westward to Zihuatanejo on Tuesday evening.

Increased ocean and air temperatures enable greater moisture transport by the air, providing fuel for storms. When favorable conditions align, these storms can rapidly escalate in intensity, sometimes crossing multiple storm categories within mere hours. Specifically in the Atlantic Ocean Basin, there has been notable progress in forecasting the phenomenon of swift intensification. It is worth considering that Hurricane Otis’s intensification may be influenced by the abnormally warm waters associated with El Niño.

Forecasters are alarmed by the sudden and unanticipated intensification of Hurricane Otis. Official forecasts and prominent computer models did not foresee this rapid strengthening. As of this morning, individuals in vulnerable areas were only bracing for a tropical storm. Hurricane Otis has the potential to serve as a prime example of the perils posed by unforeseen and swift intensification.

Hurricane Otis poses a historic threat to Mexico’s Pacific coast.

The urban area with approximately 1 million people could be hit by the storm’s core if it continues along its current path. Only buildings that are well-constructed would be able to endure the powerful Category 5 winds. The southern state of Guerrero is predicted to experience extensive flooding and mudslides as the storm brings in more than 15 inches of rainfall. Additionally, there is a possibility of increased moisture threats to the United States as the storm progresses. The NHC anticipates that Hurricane Otis will rapidly lose strength after making landfall in Mexico, likely due to the elevated terrain.

See video below from Accuweather who posted on X: Hurricane #Otis made landfall as a devastating Category 5 storm near #Acapulco, Mexico, early Wednesday morning, causing severe damage and power outages. Loss of life is feared.

https://x.com/accuweather/status/1717186493549027646?s=20

Aftermath of Hurricane Otis at Hotel Princesa, courtesy of World on Videos via X:

https://x.com/TheCryptoSapie1/status/1717280360478683362?s=20