Agatha ‘conjures’ force; dawns this Sunday as a category 1 hurricane

Tropical Storm Agatha intensified at category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale at 07:00 hours this Sunday, and is located approximately 320 kilometers west-southwest of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h, gusts of 150 km/h and moving north-northwest at 6 km/h.

This will cause intense punctual rainsranging from 75 to 150 millimeters, in regions of Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as very heavy rainfall, from 50 to 75 mm, in areas of Guerrero and Tabasco.

On the other hand, there will be an entry of humidity from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, which will cause heavy rains, from 25 to 50 mm, in Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatán.

Likewise, strong winds are expected with gusts of 70 to 80 kilometers per hour (km/h) and waves of 4 to 6 meters (m) on the coasts of Guerrero and Oaxaca, and 2 to 4 m on the coast of Chiapas.

The National Meteorological Service (SMN) of the National Water Commission (Conagua) reported that, in coordination with the National Hurricane Center, it maintains a prevention zone for hurricane effects from Salinas Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua, Oaxaca; hurricane surveillance zone from Salinas Cruz, Oaxaca, to Barra de Tonalá, Chiapas.

Likewise, a tropical storm prevention zone is maintained from Lagunas de Chacahua, Oaxaca, to Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, and from Salinas Cruz, Oaxaca, to Boca de Pijijiapan, Chiapas.

Precipitation could generate landslides, increase in the levels of rivers and streams, and overflows and floods in low-lying areas of the aforementioned entities, for which the population is urged to heed the warnings of the SMN, and follow the indications of the state, municipal and Civil Protection authorities. Maritime navigation in the vicinity of the system is called to take extreme precautions due to conditions of strong winds and high waves.

For more information on weather conditions, consult the pages: www.gob.mx/conagua and https://smn.conagua.gob.mx, the Twitter accounts @conagua_mx and @conagua_clima.