Hurricane Roslyn strengthens to category 4 in its advance towards Nayarit

Mexico was rushing shelter-in-place measures on Saturday as Category 4 Hurricane Roslyn approached tourist areas along the Pacific coast and was expected to make landfall on Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. from the United States.

Roslyn was forecast to move north as it approaches the coast before making landfall in Nayarit state on Sunday, bringing intense winds, a large storm surge and significant coastal flooding, the agency said.

Nayarit is home to popular beach destinations like Sayulita and Punta Mita.

Maximum sustained winds were around 215 kilometers per hour and heavy rains were expected along the northern coast of the state of Jalisco, Nayarit’s neighbor.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast from Playa Perula to Escuinapa and Las Islas Marías.

Although it was possible to weaken a little starting Saturday night, Roslyn was still expected to be near or at major hurricane strength when it made landfall, the Miami-based weather center said.

Some beaches were closed and emergency shelters were opened for people who were evacuated in the coastal areas of Nayarit and Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta and La Huerta, according to authorities.

Mexico’s civil protection agency reported violent waves breaking on a beach in Nayarit, with a warning to stay out of the water.

“Heavy rains could cause flash flooding and possible landslides in areas of rugged terrain on the southwest and west-central coast of Mexico,” the NHC said.

Preparations to protect life and property “must be completed quickly” for the areas under a hurricane warning, it added.

Roslyn could cause “life-threatening rip current and wave conditions” off the coast of west-central Mexico and the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula, the agency said.