Sunday, Hurricane Roslyn was sending a dangerous storm surge to sections of Mexico after crossing the Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
Sunday, the National Hurricane Center of the United States reported that Tropical Storm Roslyn made landfall along the coast of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, making it a Category 3 storm as it passed over land.
At 8 a.m. Sunday, the hurricane center reported that the storm was bringing “damaging gusts, a life-threatening storm surge, and flooding rains to regions of west-central Mexico.” The center anticipated “rapid weakening” as the storm approached inland.
The center of Roslyn was located around 55 miles northwest of Tepic, Mexico, and was traveling 16 mph to the north-northeast.
Saturday night, forecasters predicted that Hurricane Roslyn will pass near to Cabo Corrientes and the Puerto Vallarta region, but cautioned that these areas would continue to experience high gusts, heavy rains, and severe surf.
From Las Islas Marias and Playa Perula to Escuinapa, a hurricane watch was in force. The center issued a hurricane watch for the region north of Escuinapa to Mazatlan.
The hurricane Orlene made landfall on October 3 a bit further north in about the same region, around 45 miles southeast of the resort of Mazatlan.
The U.S. hurricane center reported that hurricane-force winds stretched 25 miles from Roslyn’s center, while tropical storm-force winds extended 80 miles.
A hurricane warning was issued for the coastline between Playa Perula south of Cabo Corrientes and El Roblito, as well as for the Islas Marias.
Saturday, vacationers appeared oblivious to the approaching storm as they dined at oceanfront restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and smaller resorts further north on the Nayarit coast, where the storm was likely going.
“We’re in good shape. Everything seems tranquil and usual “Jaime Cantón, a Casa Maria hotel receptionist in Puerto Vallarta, remarked this. He stated that if winds increased, the hotel would secure all outdoor furniture “so nothing would fly away.”
While clouds began to form in the sky, the waves stayed regular and few individuals appeared to be rushing to take precautions. There were still swimmers in the water at Puerto Vallarta.
Patricia Morales, a receptionist at the Punta Guayabitas hotel in the laid-back beach town of the same name, stated, “The area is crawling with tourists.”
When asked about safeguards, Morales responded, “They (authorities) haven’t warned us.”
The authorities of the state of Nayarit predicted that the hurricane will make landfall near the fishing community of San Blas, around 120 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta.
Pedro Nez, the head of the state’s civil defense office, stated, “Right now, we are conducting patrols across the cities to warn residents so that they may secure their belongings and remain safe in safer regions.”
In the neighboring state of Jalisco, Governor Enrique Alfaro reported that 270 people had been evacuated from a town along the predicted course of the hurricane, and that five emergency shelters had been established in Puerto Vallarta.
According to the National Water Commission, Roslyn’s rainfall could create mudslides and flooding. In addition to 4 to 6 inches of rain, the U.S. hurricane agency warned of dangerous storm surge along the shore.