Hurricane Otis Weakens After Battering Acapulco

October 25, 2023 4:59 am

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis has slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, bringing 165 mph winds and heavy rain to Acapulco and nearby towns. Otis rapidly intensified Tuesday, growing from a tropical storm to a Category 5 monster in 12 hours. The storm then quickly weakened to a Category 2 by early Wednesday with its maximum sustained winds decreasing to 110 mph. The hurricane is expected to continue to weaken quickly in Guerrero state’s steep mountains. As dawn broke, authorities had given no preliminary damage assessments as much of the area remained without power. Downed trees, persistent rain and flooding made it difficult to move.