Hurricane Patricia

[Misty]

(CNN)With 200-mph sustained winds and even more powerful gusts, Hurricane Patricia was the strongest hurricane ever recorded by the U.S. National Hurricane Center as it bore down Friday on Mexico's Pacific coast.

The Miami-based meteorological center, in its 8 a.m. advisory, warned of a "potentially catastrophic landfall in southwestern Mexico" later Friday. While its strength could fluctuate, "Patricia is expected to remain an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane through landfall."
Patricia has potential to cause massive death and destruction to a large swath of the Mexican Pacific coast, including the tourist hot spots of Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

Citing observations by hurricane hunters, Patricia is "the strongest hurricane on record in the National Hurricane Center's area of responsibility (AOR) which includes the Atlantic and the eastern North Pacific basins."
The closest contender, at this point, might be Hurricane Camille when it battered the U.S. Gulf Coast in 1969. Regardless, Patricia looks to be more powerful than Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Katrina in 2005 and many others.

 

[Lake View Too]

Camille had winds estimated at 175mph. Andrew had winds clocked at 177. Katrina was about 173mph. With anticipated winds of 200mph, this is certainly a serious step up.

 

[Misty]

1.) Patricia is the Strongest Hurricane Ever Recorded in the Western Hemisphere
2.) Patricia Breaks Lowest Pressure Record Set By Wilma 10 Years Ago
3.) Potentially Catastrophic Destruction Where Patricia Makes Landfall
4.) Maximum Sustained Winds Similar to an EF5 Tornado
5.) Moisture and Energy From Hurricane Patricia Will Contribute to U.S. Flood Threat

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/what-can-a-cat-5-hurricane-do

 

[Jenksy]

Global warming is a hoax.
LOVE EXXON

And all our bought congressers.

 

[Misty]

This is what she looks like from outer space

 

[Misty]

 

[steel1man]

No deaths,minimal damaged reported....amazing...watch out Texas...watch Panhandle..

 

[Teresa]

Facebook posts on some thread a about the hurricane and climate change are informative, and quite entertaining, and even controversial, with many comments by those who believe sin causes hurricanes. Or just funny posts like... "hurricane situation under control due to efforts of millions of Mexicans working in unison with leaf blowers".

 

[Will B]

Tornado scales are still misunderstood. Their scale is not based on wind speed but rather damage. You can have a tornado monster go across the plains, but if all it does is tear up crops and a house or two, it will not be classified as an F5. The flip side is you can get a relatively small tornado that hits a highly populated area, and it will receive a higher rating due to the amount of damage. Wind speed isn't a singular factor.

Regardless...that was one big hurricane. I have a friend who retired to the west coast of mexico. The only thing that separated him from the full force was a mountain range. He was lucky...