Mexico: Hurricane watch issued for Veracruz Sep. 6

Event

The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch for Veracruz state between Tuxpan and Laguna Verde on Wednesday, September 6, at approximately 16:00 (local time). Hurricane Katia is about 295 km (185 mi) east of Tampico. As of 16:00 the storm has maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (74 mph) and is moving southeast at 6 km/h (3 mph). According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Katia is expected to drop 13-25 cm (5-10 in) of rain over northern Veracruz and 5-13 cm (2-5 in) over the rest of the state through Saturday, September 9. The NHA also predicts that Katia will make landfall during the night of Friday, September 8. Flooding and landslides are possible as the storm moves towards land.

Context

Storms are common in the region during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30 with a peak of storm activity typically observed in late August and September.

Advice

Individuals in affected areas are advised to follow local weather forecasts, adhere to any advice issued by regional authorities (e.g. potential evacuation orders), and confirm travel reservations with their airlines. In the event of flooding, keep in mind that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.