Historic Hurricane Agatha aimed at Mexico’s southern coast Monday. Sustained winds of 110 mph, heavy storm surge and driving rains prompted fears of killer flooding and mudslides.
Agatha will be the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific. Up to 20 inches of rain was forecast for some areas.
“Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” warned National Weather Service hurricane specialist John Cangialosi, and deeper into Mexico, “life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides may occur.”
AccuWeather meteorologists said Agatha, as it crosses Mexico and enters the Bay of Campeche in the next few days, could redevelop into the Atlantic basin’s first named storm.
AccuWeather said Agatha moved northeast at 8 mph. The storm was forecast to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane – maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph – Monday evening in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Wind gusts of up to 145 mph were possible.
In Oaxaca, heavy rains in 2018 caused a hill to collapse and overwhelm the rural town of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec. At least 16 people were killed, and the town was destroyed.
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AccuWeather meteorologist Renee Duff said only two hurricanes in history have made landfall in Mexico during the month of May – Barbara on May 29, 2013, and a previous Agatha on May 24, 1971 – both of which were Category 1 storms.
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Strong onshore winds along the coast of Oaxaca will drive water from Agatha along the coast, and a storm surge of up to 10 feet is expected, Accuweather said.
At risk are a string of tourist beaches and fishing towns. Heavy rain and big waves lashed Zipolite, a resort town featuring a clothing-optional beach, sea turtle preservation area and protected coral reefs.
“The ocean is really stirred up, and it’s raining a lot,” said Silvia Ranfagni, the manager of Zipolite’s Casa Kalmar hotel. She said she would ride out Agatha at the property.
The East Pacific tropical season, which began May 15, could be more damaging than normal. AccuWeather predicts a normal-to-above-normal season with 15-19 named storms; six to eight of them could reach hurricane status. The first one is Agatha.
“Flooding rainfall is expected to be one of the biggest impacts across southern Mexico and parts of Central America,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. “Additional heavy rainfall is expected after the storm, which can lead to additional flooding and hamper cleanup efforts.”
Contributing: The Associated Press