Hurricane Agatha sets the May record, then weakens over Mexico

Agatha turned into a tropical storm at the end of Monday, with sustained winds dropping to 110 km / h. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to disappear overnight, but warned that heavy rains in the system would still pose a dangerous flood threat in southern Mexico states.

Torrential rains and gusts of wind hit the palms of the hands and pushed tourists and residents to shelters. The Oaxaca State Civil Protection Agency showed the families entering the Pochutla bunker and the rock and mud blocking the highway.

Heavy rain and big waves hit the seaside resort of Zipolite, which has long been known for its sultry beach and bohemian vibe.

“Lots of rain and sudden strong winds,” said Sylvia Ranfagni, manager of the Hotel Casa Kalmar in Zipolite. “Feel the wind,” Ranfagni said, deciding to take control of Agatha.

In the surf town of Puerto Escondido, people took shelter and installed plywood to prevent the windows from breaking due to the strong wind.

The government’s Mexican Turtle Center – a former slaughterhouse in Mazunte that has been converted into a conservation center – is closed to visitors due to the storm.

Agatha was formed only on Sunday and quickly gained strength. Jeff Masters, meteorologist at Yale Climate Connections and founder of Weather Underground, said it was the strongest storm to hit the eastern Pacific in May.

He said hurricanes in the region typically started with tropical waves coming off the coast of Africa.

“The first turbulence in May isn’t enough for many storms in the eastern Pacific in May, as the African monsoon usually doesn’t start producing tropical waves until early or mid-May,” Masters said in an email. “Also, the water temperature in May is cooler than in the high season and the wind count is generally higher.”