Sporting winds at 200 mph and promising up to 20 inches of rain, the strongest Pacific hurricane on record -- Patricia -- is taking aim at Mexico.
The Naional Hurricane Center is warning the residents of Manzanillo, Mexico, that a Friday afternoon landfall is likely for the area.
The storm intensified in 24 hours from a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds to a Category 5 monster with sustained winds of 200 mph surprising forecasters. The 10 a.m. Friday advisory from the NHC said gusts from Patricia were recorded at 250 mph. The Center warned of a “potentially catastrophic” landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
A hurricane warning, which means hurricane conditions were expected within 24 hours, was issued for an area between San Blas and Punta San Telmo. The area from Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas is under a hurricane watch.
How strong is it
Patricia sits near the top of a list of historic storms that caused billions of dollars in damage. Here are some of the strongest tropical systems on record:
Super Typhoon Haiyan - Samar, Philippines, 2013 – 220 mph
Labor Day Hurricane - Florida Keys, 1935 – 200 mph
Hurricane Camille - Mississippi, 1969 – 190 mph
Hurricane Linda -- Eastern Pacific, 1997 – 185 mph
Cyclone Monica - Australia, 2006 – 180 mph
Hurricane Dean - Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, 2007 – 175 mph
Typhoon Bopha - Mindanao, Philippines, 2012 – 175 mph
Hurricane Ten -- Cuba – 1924 – 165 mph
What winds of 200 mph will do
According to the NHC, winds from a Category 5 storm – 157 mph or higher – will cause catastrophic damage. "A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months," the NHC says of a landfalling Category 5 system.
To put it in context, Patricia’s winds are equal to the speed of a bullet train. Here are 5 surprising things that travel slower than the storm's winds.
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