A storm this incredible needs a post here on Finger Lakes Weather.
Earlier this week, a new tropical system developed in the eastern Pacific. It was given the name Patricia. As of Wednesday morning, Patricia was still a minor tropical storm, with maximum winds of 40 mph.
Fast forward a mere 48 hours, and Patricia is now the strongest hurricane on record in either the east Pacific or Atlantic Ocean.
Patricia absolutely exploded into a monster Category 5 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds are currently 200 mph, with higher gusts. A little more slight strengthening is possible before landfall in southwest Mexico late today.
I cannot even comprehend experiencing 200 mph winds.
Thankfully, the area of hurricane force winds (75+mph) is very small- only 30 miles across. Still, for those within that 30 mile radius, this will be a catastrophic disaster. Please keep this impacted by this storm in your thoughts and prayers.
The area of Mexico that Patricia is heading for is very mountainous. The mountains should shred Patricia to bits, and it will weaken even quicker than it strengthened. Within 12 hours of moving inland, Patricia should be disorganized with winds of just 30 mph or less.
Moisture from Patricia could help feed some activity in the western Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. Time will tell if that develops into anything.
