Hurricane Willa: ‘POTENTIALLY CATASTROPIC’ storm becomes Category 5

Willa is expected to produce life-threatening wind, rainfall and storm surge over parts of Mexico this week, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). 

The NHC added the storm is at a “potentially catastrophic” level as it has strengthened in the Atlantic Ocean this afternoon. 

The hurricane will make landfall along the southwestern coast of Mexico on Tuesday afternoon or evening. 

At 11am ET (4pm BST), Willa has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, which is just over the threshold for a Category 5. 

The NHC said: “Slight weakening is forecast to begin on Tuesday, but Willa is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the coast of Mexico.”

Willa is currently 175 miles south-southwest of Las Islas Maria, Mexico, according to NHC. 

The storm is also about 135 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and was moving north at about 7 mph. 

Hurricane force winds are moving outwards at 30 miles from the centre, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outwards up to 105 miles. 

A hurricane warning was posted between San Blas and Mazatlan. 

A typical storm warning was placed for Playa Perula to San Blas and north of Mazatlan to Bahia Tempehuaya. 

Forecasters have warned Willa will produce rain fall levels of 6 to 12 inches across Mexico. 

However, parts of western Jalisco, western Nayarit and southern Sinaloa in Mexico will see levels of up to 18 inches. 

This could lead to life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. 

In Zacatecas, Durango, southeast Chihuahua and Coahuila, there will up to 6 inches of rainfall, with potential of more life-threatening flash flooding. 

Mexico may not be the only area affected by Willa this week.

Around 1 to 3 inches of rain could fall on central and southern Texas during the middle of the week.

This could lead to flooding in already saturated areas.