Hurricane Otis exploded in strength just hours before making landfall as a historically strong Category 5.

Hurricane Otis made landfall 5 miles south of Acapulco, with 165mph winds, around 1:30am Wednesday morning.

Otis’ winds increased from 65mph to 145mph in just a 12-hour window as the storm approached Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

A hurricane specialist with Colorado State University said, “That’s the fastest 12-hour intensification rate in the eastern North Pacific in the satellite era, breaking the old record of 75mph/12hr set by Patricia in 2015.”

Otis is the strongest hurricane to make landfall on Mexico’s Pacific side and the first Eastern Pacific hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5.

Not only did the storm rapidly intensify, it happened overnight and caught many in southern Mexico off-guard as the forecast changed so quickly.

The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday night, “A nightmare scenario is unfolding for southern Mexico this evening with rapidly intensifying Otis approaching the coastline….. There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico.”

Hurricane Otis is now down to a Category 1 hurricane with 80mph sustained winds on Wednesday morning. Hurricane Otis is currently spinning about 100 miles northwest of Acapulco, moving north-northwest at 10mph.

Otis will continue to weaken as it moves inland over Mexico’s higher terrain areas and eventually dissipate. This storm will still produce heavy rain and damaging winds through Thursday across southern Mexico.

Hurricane force winds and tropical downpours are slamming the Caribbean Islands Saturday as Hurricane Tammy bears down on the eastern side of the Lesser Antilles.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Nevis and Anguilla. Hurricane Watches cover Dominica, Saba and St. Eustatius.

The center of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands through early Sunday, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands by Sunday afternoon.

Category 1 Hurricane Tammy is currently moving northwest at a slow 9mph, before taking a turn more to the north-northwest on Sunday and Monday.

Hurricane Tammy has maximum sustained winds near 80 mph with higher gusts. Tammy is expected to remain a hurricane while it passes near or over the Leeward Islands over the weekend.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

The storm is somewhat slow moving so heavy rain and flooding will be a concern. Tammy is expected to bring up to 12″ to the Leeward Islands and up to 6″ across the Windward Islands.

British and Virgin Islands will have lower rain totals, up to 4″, as the storm is expected to start turning north and puling away the tropical downpours.

Storm surge forecasts call for 1 to 3 feet of rising water across the Leeward Islands through Saturday night.