000 WTPZ34 KNHC 231500 TCPEP4 BULLETIN Hurricane Willa Advisory Number 14 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP242018 900 AM MDT Tue Oct 23 2018 ...AIRCRAFT FINDS THE CORE OF WILLA PASSING OVER LAS ISLAS MARIAS MEXICO... ...EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, WIND, AND RAINFALL TO PORTIONS OF WEST-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO... SUMMARY OF 900 AM MDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...21.4N 106.9W ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM WSW OF LAS ISLAS MARIAS MEXICO ABOUT 130 MI...205 KM SSW OF MAZATLAN MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH...205 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...966 MB...28.53 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * San Blas to Mazatlan, including Las Islas Marias A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Playa Perula to San Blas * North of Mazatlan to Bahia Tempehuaya A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Interests elsewhere along the coasts of west-central and southwestern mainland Mexico should monitor the progress of Willa. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 900 AM MDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Willa was located near latitude 21.4 North, longitude 106.9 West. Willa is moving toward the north-northeast near 6 mph (9 km/h). A faster motion toward the northeast is expected by this evening. On the forecast track, the center of Willa will move over Las Islas Marias within the next few hours, and make landfall within the hurricane warning area along the west-central coast of mainland Mexico this evening. Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Willa is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. While gradual weakening is forecast today, Willa is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it reaches the coast of Mexico. Rapid weakening is expected after landfall tonight and continuing into Wednesday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 966 mb (28.53 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- STORM SURGE: An extremely dangerous storm surge is likely along portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico in southern Sinaloa and Nayarit, especially near and to the south of where the center of Willa makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. RAINFALL: Willa is expected to produce storm total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with local amounts to 18 inches, across portions of western Jalisco, western Nayarit, southern Sinaloa, and far southern Durango in Mexico. This rainfall will cause life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Farther inland, Willa is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches across the rest of Durango and portions of Zacateca, southeast Chihuahua, and Coahuila, with local amounts to 5 inches possible. WIND: Hurricane conditions will continue over Las Islas Maria today, and will spread into the hurricane warning area along the coast of mainland Mexico this afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are occurring on Las Islas Marias, and will continue to spread northward along the coast of mainland Mexico within the warning area today. SURF: Large swells generated by Willa will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwestern and west-central mainland Mexico, and the coast of the southern Baja California peninsula Swells during the next day or two. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 1200 PM MDT. Next complete advisory at 300 PM MDT. $$ Forecaster Brown