Hurricane Lidia, the 12th named storm of the 2023 Eastern Pacific hurricane season, rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a category 4 hurricane before making landfall near the resort city of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday evening. The storm had sustained winds of 220 kilometers (140 miles) per hour at landfall, tying as the third-strongest Pacific hurricane on record to hit Mexico.
Lidia brought torrential rain, powerful winds, and storm surges to several western states of Mexico, causing rivers to overflow, trees to topple, and roofs to be blown off houses. The hurricane also knocked out power and communication lines in some areas, and blocked roads with debris. Officials warned of the potential for flooding and mudslides as the storm moved inland.
One person killed and two injured in Nayarit
The hurricane claimed its first victim in the state of Nayarit, where a man was killed by a falling tree in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas. Two other people were injured by flying objects in the same area. The state governor, Antonio Echevarría García, said that more than 100 people were evacuated from high-risk zones and taken to temporary shelters. He also reported damage to infrastructure, crops, and livestock in several municipalities.
The governor said that he had requested federal assistance to deal with the emergency, and that he had coordinated with the army, the navy, and the civil protection authorities to provide aid to the affected population. He urged people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until the situation improved.
Puerto Vallarta suffers major damage
Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, was hit hard by Hurricane Lidia. The city’s mayor, Arturo Dávalos Peña, said that the storm caused “severe damage” to the city’s infrastructure, especially in the coastal areas. He said that many hotels, restaurants, shops, and homes were flooded or damaged by the wind and waves.
The mayor said that the city’s airport was closed due to flooding on the runway, and that several flights were canceled or diverted. He also said that the city’s water supply was affected by power outages and broken pipes. He asked residents and visitors to be patient and cooperate with the authorities as they worked to restore normalcy.
The mayor thanked the federal and state governments for their support, and said that he had activated an emergency fund to help with the recovery efforts. He also praised the solidarity and resilience of the people of Puerto Vallarta, who helped each other during the crisis.
Storm weakens as it moves inland
Hurricane Lidia weakened rapidly as it moved over the mountainous terrain of western Mexico, becoming a tropical storm by Wednesday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Lidia was expected to continue producing heavy rainfall and gusty winds as it moved inland over west-central Mexico. The NHC said that Lidia could dump up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain in some areas, with isolated amounts of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches).
The NHC warned that these rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of higher terrain. The NHC also advised that swells generated by Lidia could affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico, Baja California Sur, and southern California during the next few days. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially runs from May 15 to November 30, peaking in July through September. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted an above-average season for 2023 based on climate factors such as the return of El Niño.
