Mexico’s Pacific Coast braces for ‘monster’ Hurricane Patricia

Hurricane Patricia strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 5 storm late on Thursday as it churned toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The storm, which became a hurricane overnight, had maximum sustained winds of about 160 miles per hour (260 km per hour) as it moved toward the north-northwest at 10 mph (16 kph).

Hurricane Patricia strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm late on Thursday.

U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Patricia was last located about 200 miles (320 km) south-southwest of the port of Manzanillo, where a hurricane warning had been issued. A hurricane warning was also in effect for the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta. The storm, which is a “Category 5”, the highest rating possible, is expected to weaken somewhat before making landfall in the hurricane warning area by Friday afternoon or evening, the Miami-based hurricane center said.

We don’t know what direction (the storm) will take, but apparently it’s headed this way. If there is an emergency we will take care of the people.

E. Eduardo Castillo in Mexico City

World Hurricane Patricia