By Salam Bustanji
Hurricane Otis, rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 storm, struck Acapulco and southern Mexico, leaving residents and officials with scant time to prepare.
In just 12 hours, Otis transformed from a tropical storm into an exceptionally dangerous Category 5 hurricane, making landfall near Acapulco as the most potent storm ever recorded in this region and along the Pacific coast of Mexico.
The abrupt surge in intensity caught many off guard, particularly in Acapulco, a beloved tourist destination and home to nearly 800,000 people. As the storm approached, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned of an unfolding "nightmare scenario," emphasizing that there is no historical precedent for a hurricane of this magnitude in this part of Mexico.
Studies reveal that the phenomenon of rapid intensification is becoming more commonplace, especially as storms near land, a trend attributed to the escalating effects of human-induced climate change on ocean temperatures.
At approximately 12:25 a.m. local time, Otis' center made landfall, lashing the coast with sustained winds of 165 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Within hours, the storm's maximum sustained winds diminished to 110 mph, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles from the center.
As of 8 a.m., the hurricane was situated roughly 60 miles north-northwest of Acapulco. It is anticipated to weaken swiftly as it advances inland, eventually dissipating over the elevated terrain of southern Mexico by Wednesday night.
In anticipation of the storm's arrival, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador urged coastal residents of Guerrero, encompassing Acapulco, to seek shelter and avoid proximity to rivers, streams, and ravines. Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda of Guerrero swiftly announced the opening of temporary shelters in Tecpan de Galeana, Coyuca de Benítez, and Acapulco.
A hurricane warning remains in effect from coastal Punta Maldonado westward to Zihuatanejo, underscoring the critical need for residents in these areas to exercise caution and adhere to official advisories.
