Hurricane Orlean, a Category 3 storm, is approaching western Mexico and could bring significant winds, storm surges and rainfall to the region on Sunday night, forecasters said.
The storm was about 85 miles south-southwest of Las Islas Marias, an archipelago of four islands, and was moving north. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday evening. Oleen’s maximum sustained winds were about 115 mph and were gusty.
Category 3 storms are considered major hurricanes with wind speeds between 111 and 129 mph.
Orlean will be a “strong hurricane” that will most likely pass near or over the archipelago on Sunday night and reach mainland Mexico’s coast on Monday, forecasters said.
Hurricane warnings were issued for the coast of mainland Mexico from Las Islas Marias and San Blas to Mazatlan, and hurricane conditions were expected in those areas, the center said.
The center said, “We must urgently prepare to protect lives and property.”
Orlean is expected to bring flash floods and possible landslides in southwestern Mexico through Tuesday, according to the center. Up to 14 inches of rain can fall in Las Islas Marias.
Dangerous storm surges and large swells could cause dangerous waves and tear through the current conditions, forecasters said.
Aureen is 15th Named Storm It will form in the eastern Pacific this year. The Pacific Hurricane season begins on his May 15th and runs through November 30th. National Hurricane Center.
Five named storms formed last month, including Orlene. One of his, Tropical Storm Cay, made landfall on the coast of the Baja California peninsula in early September, briefly turning it into hurricane conditions. Conditions in Orlean turned from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Saturday.