A first-in-history weather event suddenly erupted over the eastern Pacific ocean, Tuesday into Wednesday, threatening millions of people near Acapulco, Mexico.
Hurricane Otis unexpectedly transformed from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 12 hours over the eastern Pacific, meteorologist Colin McCarthy said on Twitter on Tuesday. The enormous system is expected to make landfall as a Cat. 5 storm near the bustling city of Acapulco, Mexico, which is home to more than a million people.
Weather services believed the storm would barely develop past a tropical status, so no warnings appear to have been issued in the region. And a storm bigger than a Cat. 3 has never made landfall within 50 miles of Acapulco before, let alone something on this scale.
“This is pretty much a worst-case scenario, as residents have little time to find a safe shelter and protect life and property from this life-threatening storm,” McCarthy said in the forecast.
In a shocking turn of events, Hurricane #Otis in the Eastern Pacific has unexpectedly, explosively intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 12 hours.
Even worse, the storm is expected to make a catastrophic landfall tonight as a Category 5 hurricane… pic.twitter.com/VNOhGzNPOy
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 25, 2023
The National Hurricane Center called Otis a “nightmare scenario,” according to CNN, as the system continued to strengthen overnight. Winds up to 165 mph already hit areas close to Acapulco around 12:25 AM local time. (RELATED: Energy Companies Gaslight Customers Into Thinking Soaring Costs Are Due To Extreme Weather)
It is hoped the system will weaken significantly as it makes landfall, but what that will happen is still anyone’s guess. Residents have been told to take shelter, stay away from rivers, screams, and ravines, and try to keep safe.