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| Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm | Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Americas is bearing down on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening a "potentially catastrophic" landfall. | The strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Americas is bearing down on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening a "potentially catastrophic" landfall. |
| Mexican authorities have begun evacuating residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. | Mexican authorities have begun evacuating residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. |
| The storm is comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says. | The storm is comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says. |
| A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path. | A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path. |
| The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of 325km/h (200mph). | The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of 325km/h (200mph). |
| Hurricane Patricia: Key questions | Hurricane Patricia: Key questions |
| The US National Hurricane Center said on its website: "Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Patricia moving northward toward landfall in south-western Mexico." | The US National Hurricane Center said on its website: "Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Patricia moving northward toward landfall in south-western Mexico." |
| The centre added that it was the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic. | The centre added that it was the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic. |
| It has already produced the third lowest barometer reading ever recorded - a pressure of 880 millibars at the centre of the storm - the centre reported. | |
| Some 400,000 people live in vulnerable areas, according to Mexico's National Disaster Fund. | Some 400,000 people live in vulnerable areas, according to Mexico's National Disaster Fund. |
| The hurricane, which will bring torrential rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the US centre said. | The hurricane, which will bring torrential rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the US centre said. |
| It also warned of potential flooding from the sea and destructive waves. | It also warned of potential flooding from the sea and destructive waves. |
| The hurricane's winds are strong enough "to get a plane in the air and keep it flying", World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Claire Nullis said. | The hurricane's winds are strong enough "to get a plane in the air and keep it flying", World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Claire Nullis said. |
| BBC Earth explains: What is a hurricane? | BBC Earth explains: What is a hurricane? |
| According to forecasters, Patricia will make landfall in the western state of Jalisco, home to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, which could lie directly in its path. | According to forecasters, Patricia will make landfall in the western state of Jalisco, home to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, which could lie directly in its path. |
| Police patrols in the resort urged people to leave the shorefront for safer areas at least three blocks inland, while loudspeakers ordered hotel residents to evacuate. | Police patrols in the resort urged people to leave the shorefront for safer areas at least three blocks inland, while loudspeakers ordered hotel residents to evacuate. |
| Few people were seen going to official shelters, designed to accommodate 259,000 people, though there were queues at the local bus station. | Few people were seen going to official shelters, designed to accommodate 259,000 people, though there were queues at the local bus station. |
| The town's airport, along with two others in the path of the storm, were closed. | The town's airport, along with two others in the path of the storm, were closed. |
| Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. | Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. |
| Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have begun boarding up windows. | Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have begun boarding up windows. |
| "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP news agency. | "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP news agency. |
| Residents have also begun stocking up on food and other supplies. | Residents have also begun stocking up on food and other supplies. |
| Heavy rains often lead to flooding in the town, said Alejandra Rodriguez, who was shopping at Wal-Mart in Manzanillo with her brother and mother. | Heavy rains often lead to flooding in the town, said Alejandra Rodriguez, who was shopping at Wal-Mart in Manzanillo with her brother and mother. |
| "It ends up like an island," she said. | "It ends up like an island," she said. |
| Some rural areas are prone to landslides and flooding. The government has warned that ash from the nearby Colima volcano, which has become increasingly active this year, could combine with heavy rainfall to trigger huge mudflows. | Some rural areas are prone to landslides and flooding. The government has warned that ash from the nearby Colima volcano, which has become increasingly active this year, could combine with heavy rainfall to trigger huge mudflows. |
| Mexico has to deal with tropical storms arriving from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at this time of year. | Mexico has to deal with tropical storms arriving from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at this time of year. |
| Some of the most powerful storms in recent years | Some of the most powerful storms in recent years |
| Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all part of the same weather phenomenon but different names are used depending on where the storms are formed. Hurricanes form east of the International Date Line, while typhoons and cyclones form to the west. | Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all part of the same weather phenomenon but different names are used depending on where the storms are formed. Hurricanes form east of the International Date Line, while typhoons and cyclones form to the west. |
| Are you in the region? How are you preparing for Hurricane Patricia? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the region? How are you preparing for Hurricane Patricia? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |