PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - Hurricane Lidia escalated to a major Category 3 storm on Tuesday, posing an imminent threat to Mexico's Pacific coast, including the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a series of warnings as the storm inches closer to making landfall, predicting heavy rains, dangerous winds, and potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
Precautions Underway in Puerto Vallarta
Local businesses in Puerto Vallarta are heeding the warnings seriously. Shopkeepers have boarded up windows and are piling up sandbags to mitigate the risk of flooding. Educational institutions have suspended classes in certain areas, and residents are strongly encouraged to take precautionary measures such as relocating to temporary shelters and avoiding any proximity to the sea.
Government Response
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has declared that civil protection personnel are on full alert. Approximately 6,000 members of the armed forces have been deployed to assist residents in preparing for the storm and to provide aid during the aftermath.
Storm Details
According to the NHC, Lidia is carrying maximum sustained winds of around 115 miles (185 kilometers) per hour and is projected to make landfall late Tuesday or overnight. It was last located about 155 miles southwest of Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco state. It's expected to bring torrential rainfall, with accumulations of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) particularly affecting the states of Nayarit, Sinaloa, and Jalisco.
"The torrential rains are expected to produce flash and urban flooding, along with possible mudslides in areas of higher terrain near the coast," said an NHC report. The agency also warns of a "dangerous storm surge expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the south of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves."
Wider Impact and Historical Context
Hurricanes are a recurring phenomenon in Mexico, affecting both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November. Earlier this week, Tropical Storm Max wreaked havoc in the southern state of Guerrero, resulting in two fatalities and dozens of flooded homes. In August, storm Hilary, a Category 4 hurricane, led to one death and infrastructure damage in the northwestern state of Baja California.
Experts and scientists continue to warn that the increasing intensity of such storms is likely linked to the global changes in climate, emphasizing the need for improved preparedness and sustainable environmental policies.
For residents and tourists alike, the time to act is now, as Puerto Vallarta and other coastal areas brace for what could be one of the most severe hurricanes to hit the region in recent history.
