Hurricane Agatha could make landfall in Mexico as Category 3

Hurricane Agatha, the first named storm of the season, is hurtling toward Mexico’s southern coast as it prepares to make landfall Monday night.

Agatha is just shy of a Category 3 storm, with winds up to 110 mph as of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. update Monday, and is expected to strengthen before hitting land.

The storm currently sits about 65 miles southwest of Puerto Angel.

A hurricane warning is in effect from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacahua and a tropical storm warning from Salina Cruz eastward to Boca de Pijijiapan and from Lagunas de Chacahua westward to Punta Maldonado.

Heavy rainfall is expected through Tuesday, with up to 20 inches possible in Oaxaca, 15 inches in Chiapas and six inches in Veracruz, Tabasco and eastern portions of Guerrero.

Landfall is expected in Oaxaca Monday afternoon or evening and Agatha should dissipate by Tuesday as it crosses through Mexico.

The 2022 hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, is expected to see above-average activity with 14 to 21 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher and three to six major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.