'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Willa now a category 5 storm with 160-mph winds

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Michael made landfall at Mexico Beach in Florida as a category 4 storm packing 155-mph winds, Hurricane Willa is approaching Mexico with 160-mph winds.

Willa could strengthen even more before landfall.

In the Atlantic, all is quiet and nothing is forecast to develop over the next two days.

The 2018 hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30.

Hurricane Willa

From 40 mph Tropical Storm to 155 mph Hurricane in 48hrs, Willa is another example of rapid intensification in a tropical cyclone. Wind shear will weaken the storm slightly before landfall Tue, but Willa will bring life-threatening storm surge and winds to the Mexico coast. pic.twitter.com/9jR73rxuk0 — NWS (@NWS) October 22, 2018

Hurricane Willa is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane.

Willa is expected to produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of west-central and southwestern Mexico.

Location: 175 miles south-southwest of Islas Marias, Mexico

Maximum sustained winds: 160 mph

Movement: north at 7 mph

Next advisory: 2 p.m.

Interactive map: Where is Willa going?

At 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Willa was located 175 miles south-southwest of Islas Marias, Mexico.

Spaghetti models: Projected paths for active storms

#Willa is now a Category 5 #hurricane - the 3rd of the 2018 Northeast Pacific (to 180°) hurricane season to date. #Lane #Walaka pic.twitter.com/VIJdwckvaj — Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 22, 2018

Willa is moving toward the north near 7 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue today. Willa is forecast to accelerate toward the north-northeast and move over or very near the Islas Marias early Tuesday and make landfall along the southwestern coast of mainland Mexico in the hurricane warning area Tuesday afternoon or evening.

Satellite data indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 mph, with higher gusts. Willa is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Some strengthening is still possible today. Slight weakening is forecast to begin on Tuesday, but Willa is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the coast of Mexico.

More: Anti-looting, peace-keeping part of St. Lucie sheriff's deputies' tasks after Hurricane Michael

GPM flew over #HurricaneWilla as it neared the western coast of Mexico on 10/21/18 https://t.co/vp4qwBhELV pic.twitter.com/eMZgq0PoDE — NASA Precipitation (@NASARain) October 22, 2018

More: Hurricane off Mexico spins toward Category 5 status in Pacific

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Hazards affecting land from Hurricane Willa

Willa is expected to produce life-threatening storm surge, wind, and rainfall over portions of west-central and southwestern Mexico. Here are the latest Key Messages. Additional information at https://t.co/Oy8uoeRKme pic.twitter.com/JXeOxdnOmw — NHC E. Pacific Ops (@NHC_Pacific) October 22, 2018

Storm surge: An extremely dangerous storm surge is likely along portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico by Tuesday or Tuesday night, especially near and to the south of where the center of Willa makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Rainfall: Willa is expected to produce storm total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with local amounts to 18 inches, across portions of western Jalisco, western Nayarit, and southern Sinaloa in Mexico. This rainfall will cause life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.

Since 1970, 5 major (Category 3+) #hurricanes have tracked within ~150 miles of Islas Marias - near where #Willa is forecast to track tomorrow. The most recent was Lane (2006) which reached major hurricane strength shortly after passing the islands. pic.twitter.com/EEGLmGkDRV — Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 22, 2018

Farther inland, Willa is expected to produce rainfall amount of 2 to 4 inches across portions of Zacateca, Durango, southeast Chihuahua, and Coahuila in Mexico, with local amounts to 6 inches possible. This rainfall could cause life-threatening flash flooding.

Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area beginning Tuesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected by Tuesday morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning areas by tonight and Tuesday.

Surf: Large swells generated by Willa will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Once moisture from what is currently Hurricane Willa in the Eastern Pacific reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it may stir up a new storm which could become a major nor'easter by this weekend: https://t.co/kZs0gsAJ7m pic.twitter.com/ydg5irDRIk — AccuWeather (@breakingweather) October 22, 2018

Tropical Storm Vincente

Tropical Storm Vincente started looking less organized Monday morning but is still expected to produce heavy rainfall and flooding over portions of southern and southwest Mexico as it tracks just to the east of Hurricane Willa.

Location: 365 miles southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico

Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph

Movement: west-northwest at 12 mph

Next advisory: 5 p.m.

Interactive map: Where is Vincente going?

At 11 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Vicente was located 365 miles southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.

More: Anti-looting, peace-keeping part of St. Lucie sheriff's deputies' tasks after Hurricane Michael

This incredible view from #GOESEast shows Tropical Storm #Vicente forming off the coast of Guatemala on October 19. The storm is expected to produce heavy rainfall and flooding over portions of southern and southwestern Mexico. More: https://t.co/zWElTvnc34 pic.twitter.com/ZatedP7UPj — NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) October 22, 2018

More: Hurricane Michael causes Public Service Commission to delay FPL purchase hearing

Vicente is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph and a turn to the northwest is expected today followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Vicente is expected to approach the southwestern coast of Mexico on Tuesday.

Ryan Beath went through Hurricane Michael on Tyndall Air Force Base Airman Ryan Beath, of Port St. Lucie, discusses going through Hurricane Michael on Tyndall Air Force Base

More: Airman Ryan Beath, of Port St. Lucie, safeguarded military base after Hurricane Michael

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts.

Weakening is forecast, and Vicente is expected to become a tropical depression by tonight or Tuesday. The cyclone's circulation is expected to dissipate near the southwestern coast of Mexico by Wednesday.

Vicente is a small tropical cyclone. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center.

In the Atlantic, all remains quiet