by
CNN
—
Hurricane Roslyn, headed toward Mexico as a major Category 4 storm, is expected to make landfall on Sunday morning, bringing dangerous storm surge and flooding to parts of the country, forecasters said.
Roslyn had sustained winds of 130 mph on Saturday night as it moved toward the Pacific coast of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The powerful hurricane was located about 65 miles west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes on Saturday night. It was moving north about 12 mph and is expected to speed up, turning to the north-northeast on Sunday.
On its current forecast track, the center of Roslyn is expected to approach the coast of west-central Mexico, likely making landfall along the Nayarit coast on Sunday morning, according to the hurricane center.
“While some weakening is possible tonight and early Sunday morning, Roslyn is expected to be at or near hurricane intensity when it makes landfall on Sunday,” hurricane center forecasters said Saturday.
A dangerous storm surge is expected to cause significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the hurricane makes landfall. Near the coast, large and destructive waves are expected.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Las Islas Marías, an archipelago about 60 miles from the mainland coast, and for the region from Playa Perula to Escuinapa. A hurricane watch is in effect for the area north of Escuinapa to Mazatlán.
“Preparations to protect life and property must be completed quickly,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Significant rainfall is also expected, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides, according to the forecast.
The upper coast of Colima, western Nayarit, including the Marias Islands, and southeastern Sinaloa could see up to 8 inches of rain. Jalisco could get a maximum of 10 inches along the north coast.
Roslyn began to form off the western coast of Mexico and its sustained wind speeds increased 60 mph over a 24-hour period from Friday through Saturday morning, a rapid intensification.
The hurricane has been moving in a similar fashion to Hurricane Orlene, which made landfall on October 3 just north of the Nayarit-Sinaloa border as a Category 1 storm before dissipating inland. Orlene had strengthened into a Category 4 storm over open water the day before.
