Mexico: Hurricane warning for Veracruz Sep. 7 /update 1

Event

The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for the area of Veracruz state between Cabo Rojo and Laguna Verde on Thursday, September 7. In addition, there is a tropical storm warning for the south of Cabo Rojo to Rio Panuco as well as the south of Laguna Verde to Puerto Veracruz. Hurricane Katia is about 345 km (215 mi) east of Tampico. As of 10:00 CDT the storm has maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and is currently stationary. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Katia is expected to drop 25-38 cm (10-15 in) of rain over northern Veracruz, eastern Hidalgo, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi and 5-13 cm (2-5 in) over southern Tamaulipas, central San Luis Potosi, western Hidalgo, eastern Queretaro, and southern Veracruz through Saturday, September 9. The NHC also predicts that Katia will make landfall during the night of Friday, September 8, or early Saturday, September 9. 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.