NHC: TS Barbara Nears Mexico’s Southwest Coast; Hurricane Watch Issued
A bulletin from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, issued at 2:00 AM PDT, locates the center of Tropical Storm Barbara, which is approaching the southwest coast of Mexico, as “moving toward the northeast near 5 mph, 7 km/h,” with a “slightly faster northeastward or north-northeastward motion likely today.”
The NHC said that “on the forecast track, the center of Barbara should reach the coast in the gulf of Tehuantepec later today,” and that a hurricane watch has been issued for a portion of the coast in the Gulf.
“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph, 95 km/h, with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is likely today, and Barbara could be near hurricane strength prior to landfall. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles, 110 km from the center.”
The bulletin also noted, however, that “steady weakening is likely after the center moves inland tonight, and Barbara should dissipate over southeastern Mexico on Thursday.”
Barbara’s potential to cause damage arises mainly from the heavy rainfall the storm will produce. The NHC said it is “expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over eastern Oaxaca and western Chiapas Mexico, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches possible in southeastern Oaxaca. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.”
Source: National Hurricane Center