Category 3 Hurricane John Set to Slam Mexican Coast
Hurricane John approaches Mexico's Pacific coast, likely to hit Oaxaca as Category 3. Severe winds, rain, and waves expected. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine may become Tropical Storm Helene near Yucatan.
As the 2024 hurricane season intensifies, Mexico braces for the impact of not one, but two potentially devastating storm systems. Hurricane John, a formidable Category 3 hurricane emerging from the Pacific Ocean, is poised to make landfall on the western coast of Oaxaca on Tuesday, while Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine lurks near the Yucatan Peninsula, threatening to evolve into Tropical Storm Helene.
Hurricane John, currently classified as a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is rapidly approaching the Mexican coastline with alarming intensity. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) reports that as of 3:00 p.m. Central Mexico time, John was located a mere 90 kilometers south of Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, and 155 kilometers west-southwest of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
The hurricane is packing a powerful punch with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts reaching up to 195 km/h. Moving northward at a steady pace of 9 km/h, John is expected to make landfall between Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, and Copala, Guerrero, during the morning or afternoon hours on Tuesday.
As John approaches, the SMN has established a hurricane prevention zone stretching from Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, to Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca. Additionally, a tropical storm prevention zone has been declared from east of Bahías de Huatulco to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and from west of Punta Maldonado to Acapulco, Guerrero.
The impact of Hurricane John is expected to be severe, with forecasts predicting:
- Torrential rains exceeding 250 millimeters in Oaxaca and Guerrero
- Wind gusts of up to 150 km/h along the Oaxacan coast
- Waves reaching heights of 6 to 8 meters
- Potential for landslides, river flooding, and coastal inundation
While attention is focused on Hurricane John, another weather system is developing off the eastern coast of Mexico. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is projected to evolve into Tropical Storm Helene as it moves along the coast of Quintana Roo, with a likely trajectory towards the Yucatan Channel.
Although not as intense as Hurricane John, this system poses significant risks to the Yucatan Peninsula, including:
- Significant rainfall across the region
- Wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h along the coasts of Quintana Roo
- Waves up to 4 meters high on coastal areas
Widespread Weather Impacts Across Mexico
The combined effects of these two systems, interacting with the monsoon trough, are expected to bring widespread severe weather conditions across southern, southeastern, and central Mexico. The SMN has issued alerts for multiple states, with rainfall forecasts ranging from moderate to extraordinary:
- Extraordinary rainfall (over 250 mm): Oaxaca, Guerrero
- Torrential rainfall (150-250 mm): Chiapas
- Intense rainfall (75-150 mm): Veracruz, Puebla
- Very heavy rainfall (50-75 mm): Michoacan, Morelos, Tabasco
- Heavy rainfall (25-50 mm): State of Mexico, Jalisco, Colima, Campeche
In addition to the rainfall, strong winds are expected across a large swath of the country, with gusts ranging from 40 km/h to over 150 km/h in the most severely affected coastal areas.
Despite the incoming storms, parts of Mexico will experience extreme heat. Maximum temperatures between 40°C and 45°C are forecast for Baja California, Sonora, and Sinaloa, with many other states expecting temperatures to reach 35°C to 40°C.
Conversely, mountainous areas in Chihuahua, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Tlaxcala may see minimum temperatures drop to between 0°C and 5°C.
Given the severity of the approaching weather systems, the National Water Commission (Conagua) and civil protection authorities are urging residents, tourists, and maritime operators to exercise extreme caution. They recommend:
- Heeding all warnings and evacuation orders from local authorities
- Staying informed through official channels about storm developments
- Taking necessary precautions against heavy rain, strong winds, and high waves
- Being prepared for potential power outages, landslides, and flooding
As Mexico faces this dual threat from both the Pacific and the Caribbean, the coming days will be crucial for emergency preparedness and response efforts. The nation's resilience will be tested as it confronts the fury of Hurricane John and the potential development of Tropical Storm Helene.
