Hurricane John Intensifies Quickly, Hits Popular Mexican Tourist Areas

Puerto Escondido, Mexico — Hurricane John made landfall on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, bringing the risk of life-threatening floods. The storm escalated rapidly into a major hurricane, striking near Punta Maldonado late on Monday night as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 120 mph. This swift intensification prompted local authorities to issue urgent warnings to residents about the storm’s potential devastation.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took to social media to advise citizens to seek higher ground and safeguard their lives, emphasizing that material possessions can be replaced. His message underscored the serious nature of the weather threat.

By early Tuesday, John had downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, sustaining maximum winds of 100 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The hurricane was anticipated to affect Punta Maldonado and nearby tourist hotspots such as Acapulco and Puerto Escondido before losing strength as it moved inland over elevated terrain.

The National Hurricane Center had warned prior to landfall about “life-threatening” storm surges and flash flooding in coastal areas of Oaxaca.

The sudden increase in John’s intensity astonished scientists, local authorities, and residents alike. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz pointed out that warmer ocean temperatures contribute to this phenomenon. Such rapid strengthening has become increasingly prevalent, reflecting the influence of climate change on storm behavior.

According to meteorologists, rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained winds increase by at least 30 knots (approximately 35 mph) in a 24-hour period. Benz mentioned that this unpredictable behavior suggests alterations in our environment, pointing out that the frequency of such storms is unlike what was seen in historical records.

Residents along the Oaxaca coast experienced heightened anxiety as forecasts evolved. Laura Velázquez, the federal civil protection coordinator, urged people to leave their homes and seek refuge in shelters, prioritizing the safety of their families. “Preventive measures are essential,” she stated.

In Puerto Escondido, Ana Aldai, a 33-year employee of a local restaurant, indicated that many businesses began closing as authorities halted activities on the main beaches. Classes were suspended in various coastal zones across the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca in anticipation of the hurricane’s impact.

Oaxaca’s governor reported that approximately 3,000 residents had been evacuated, and 80 shelters were established in preparedness for those most affected. Additionally, around 1,000 military and state personnel were deployed to manage the emergency.

Social media footage from Puerto Escondido depicted tourists navigating through heavy rain, while fishermen rushed to pull their boats out of the water. Prior heavy rains had already rendered some roads in the area unstable.

Aldai expressed her distress, noting the rapid notification from authorities that left little time to prepare, which added to the anxiety of local residents. “There wasn’t enough time to make the necessary purchases,” she lamented.

The storm’s slow traversal over land could exacerbate its effects, according to meteorologist Benz, leaving it lingering over already vulnerable regions. This predicament was especially grim for locales that suffered from last year’s Hurricane Otis, a rapidly intensifying storm that devastated the resort city of Acapulco with little warning.

Otis left widespread destruction, knocking out power for days, causing fatalities, and plunging many areas into chaos as shocked residents searched for missing loved ones amidst the aftermath. The slow governmental response to Otis faced considerable criticism, prompting promises for improved preparedness from authorities moving forward.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to enhance early warning systems akin to those already in place for earthquakes in response to previous hurricanes, including Otis.

Forecasts estimate that Hurricane John could produce between 6 to 12 inches of rainfall across Chiapas and even more in isolated regions. Along the Oaxaca coast to southeast Guerrero, rainfall amounts of 10 to 20 inches, with even higher totals in certain areas, are expected through Thursday. The lingering effects of the storm may be felt for weeks or even months in the impacted regions, as articulated by meteorologist Benz.