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This GOES East satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
>>Here’s how the country is preparing for the storm…
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This GOES East satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
>>Here’s how the country is preparing for
… more
Photo: AP
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A woman carries her baby at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A woman carries her baby at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. The Category 4 hurricane was on course to slam into Mexico somewhere around the resort town of Mazatlan on Tuesday evening.
lessPeople arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. The Category 4 hurricane was on course to slam into Mexico somewhere
… more Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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A man fishes at Mazatlan’s coastline, in Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A man fishes at Mazatlan’s coastline, in Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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A soldier carries blankets at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A soldier carries blankets at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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A soldier carries blankets at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A soldier carries blankets at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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A soldier stands guard at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A soldier stands guard at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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A soldier stands guard as people remain at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
A soldier stands guard as people remain at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People remain at an improvised shelter in a school, in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
People remain at an improvised shelter in a school, in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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Children gather with their families at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Children gather with their families at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
People arrive at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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People remain at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
People remain at an improvised shelter in Escuinapa, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP/Getty Images
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View of piled up sand bags, to protect a restaurant from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
View of piled up sand bags, to protect a restaurant from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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A man rests after pilling up sand bags to protect a restaurant from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
A man rests after pilling up sand bags to protect a restaurant from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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Workers use tape to protect windows from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Workers use tape to protect windows from Hurricane Willa, before its arrival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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The windows of a shop are protected with tape against strong winds, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa, in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
The windows of a shop are protected with tape against strong winds, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa, in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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The windows of a restaurant are protected with tape against strong winds, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa, in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
The windows of a restaurant are protected with tape against strong winds, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa, in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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Tourists pose for pictures in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Tourists pose for pictures in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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Tourists walk along the coastline of Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Tourists walk along the coastline of Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 23, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa.
Photo: DANIEL SLIM, AFP/Getty Images
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This GOES East satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
>>Here’s how the country is preparing for the storm…
less
This GOES East satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
>>Here’s how the country is preparing for
… more
Photo: AP
Fierce Hurricane Willa closes in on Mexican resort area
MAZATLAN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Willa roared over an offshore penal colony and closed in on Mexico’s Pacific coast with 120 mph (195 kph) winds Tuesday, threatening a major resort area along with fishing villages and farms.
Emergency officials said they evacuated more than 4,250 people in coastal towns and set up 58 shelters ahead of the dangerous Category 3 storm, which was expected to blow ashore in the evening near Mazatlan, a tourist spot of high-rise hotels and about 500,000 people, many of them U.S. and Canadian expatriates.
Forecasters said it could bring life-threatening storm surge and torrential rain.
The storm battered the Islas Marias, a group of Mexican islands about 60 miles (100 kilometers) off the mainland that include a nature preserve and a federal prison. Federal authorities gave no immediate details on any damage to the prison or what steps were taken to protect the inmates.
WE’RE NEXT: Hurricane off Mexico on track for South Texas
As Willa closed in, the beach in Mazatlan almost disappeared, with waves slamming against the coastal boulevard, black clouds looming overhead. A few surfers took advantage of the high waves even as workers boarded up windows on hotels, shops and homes. Schools were closed and the streets nearly empty.
The federal government issued a decree of “extraordinary emergency” for 19 municipalities in Nayarit and Sinaloa states.
Bob Swanson, who is from Saskatchewan, Canada, and spends two to six months of the year in his house in the Cerritos neighborhood near the shore in Mazatlan, said he filled his washing machine with water, filled his home fuel tank and gassed up his car in case he needs to head into the mountains for safety.
“I come from a country where we have hurricanes and vicious storms, so I’m kind of waiting with bated breath,” he said over the phone while sitting on his porch and smoking a cigarette.
FORECAST: Expect rain on morning commute through Houston
Hurricane-force winds extended 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the storm’s center, and tropical storm-force winds were up to 125 miles (205 kilometers) out.
Forecasters said Willa could bring 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain — with up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) in some places — to parts of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa states, with flash flooding and landslides possible in mountainous areas.
Farther to the south, the remnants of Tropical Storm Vicente continued to bring heavy rain that caused deadly flooding and mudslides in southern and southwestern Mexico.
Federal disaster agency chief Luis Felipe Puente said 11 people died as a result of Vicente. Local officials earlier put the figure at 12.
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Associated Press writer Isabella Cota in Mexico City contributed to this story.
