The Mexican National Water Commission (Conagua), through the National Meteorological Service (SMN), announced the formation of tropical storm Hilary on Wednesday morning. The storm, located in the Pacific Ocean south of the coast of Guerrero, had its center approximately 590 kilometers (km) south of Zihuatanejo and 755 km south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima, as of 09:00 hours, central Mexico time.
The storm features maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h), gusts of up to 85 km/h, and is moving west-northwest at 22 km/h.
Recommendations
Mexican authorities have warned tourists in the affected areas to exercise caution due to the possibility of high waves. The recommendations include avoiding beaches and other low-lying areas that could be impacted by high tides and swells caused by the intensity of the storm’s strong winds. It is also advised not to park vehicles in areas affected by the waves. The sea can be dangerous during such times, and there is a risk of being swept away if one is too close to the shoreline.
Further resources:
- President Biden declares state of emergency for Guam as super typhoon Mawar (‘rose’) nears with gusts over 186 mph
- National Weather Forecast For This Spring
- Four dead in U.S. cyclone bomb blast: extreme weather leaves a trail of disruptions
- If you are in maritime areas, try to avoid the beach and other low places that may be affected by the high tides and swells usually generated by the intensity of strong winds.
- It is recommended to avoid parking vehicles in areas that may be affected by waves.
- In these situations, the sea takes on extraordinary conditions and can sweep you away if you are near the sea.
Which states will Hilary affect?
Tropical storm Hilary is expected to bring heavy rain to several states. The storm’s cloud bands will cause heavy rains (75 to 150 millimeters [mm]) in Guerrero, Michoacán, and Oaxaca. There will also be very heavy rains (50 to 75 mm) in Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit. In addition to the rain, there will be wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h and waves of 2 to 4 meters high along the coast of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, and Oaxaca.
Electrical discharges could accompany the precipitation from this system and could lead to landslides, increased levels of rivers and streams, overflows, and floods in the affected states. As such, residents in these areas are urged to heed the warnings from the National Meteorological Service (SMN), and the National Water Commission (Conagua), and to follow the recommendations of state authorities and Civil Protection.