As a Category 5 hurricane, Otis made its way to the coastal region near the breathtaking resort city of Acapulco on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico. According to forecasters, this powerful storm is expected to bring record-breaking winds and rainfall, which could potentially lead to devastating flooding and mudslides.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Otis had reached maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour with even stronger gusts when it made landfall at approximately 12:25 a.m. local time.
Based on the analysis of meteorologists, The storm originated in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, quickly escalating to a Category 1 hurricane by midday Tuesday, and underwent rapid intensification within a few hours, making it the most powerful storm ever documented in this particular region of Mexico.
According to the forecast, the hurricane is expected to bring significant rainfall of 8 to 20 inches across the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, potentially leading to dangerous coastal flooding.
The hurricane center issued a warning about the "highly destructive winds in the vicinity" of Hurricane Otis, emphasising the potential danger posed to the upper levels of tall buildings by strong gusts.
Otis threatens a coast dotted with fishing villages and beach resorts as they gear up for their peak winter season. Along its path lies Acapulco, a large port city and a popular tourist destination home to more than 852,000 people, according to the Mexican government.