Hurricane Marty Lashes Southwest Mexico With Downpours

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

September 28,2015; 9:02PM,EDT

 

 

Marty strengthened into a hurricane late Monday and will spread rain and gusty winds across parts of southwest Mexico over the next couple of days
Marty is spinning over water more than sufficient for strengthening but will battle disruptive wind shear as it tracks slowly north toward the southwest Mexican coast.

With the low heading northward, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller has put the corridor from Acapulco to Puerto Angel on alert for potential impacts this week. However, those around Manzanillo should also monitor the low in the event it turns to the northwest later in the week after approaching the Acapulco-Puerto Angel area.
Satellite Loop of Hurricane Marty and thumbnail images (Image/NOAA)..
Dangerous rip currents and rough surf will slam the southwest Mexican coastline through Tuesday as Marty nears the coast. Marty is likely to peak as a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds around 80 mph through early Tuesday. Some weakening should then take place later Tuesday which should bring Marty back to a tropical storm. Marty is still expected to take a crucial turn away from the Mexico coast later Monday night and Tuesday which will keep the worst winds offshore, but residents in the region should brace for the worst.
This interaction with stronger wind shear will result in a weakening of Marty as it makes its closest approach to the Mexico coastline Tuesday night. The center of the storm will remain at least 160 km (100 miles) offshore, keeping the threat for any damaging winds confined to strong winds associated with any thunderstorms.
Even though Marty will remain offshore, several days of heavy rainfall will cause dangerous conditions across coastal regions of southwest Mexico.

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"The main concern is that Marty will be moving so slowly," stated Miller. That could lead to a prolonged duration of rain for a given location, significantly putting those communities at risk for flooding and mudslides.
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Rainfall amounts of 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) will be common from coastal Jalisco state southeast through western Oaxaca state. Within that region, 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) will be possible in much of Guerrero state with locally higher amounts in the higher terrain.
If Marty is able to maintain its tropical characteristics after turning northwest during the middle of the week, it could eventually approach Baja California and supply moisture to northern Mexico and the southwest United States which could result in flooding. It also remains possible that Marty turns northwest and strong wind shear rips the storm apart, resulting in no further impacts to Mexico.
AccuWeather will continue to provide updates on Marty and more details on the expected impacts to Mexico this week.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty