Barbara becomes hurricane near Mexico's top oil refinery
MEXICO CITY, May 29 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Barbara became a hurricane in the Pacific on Wednesday as it neared Mexico's southern coast and forged a course towards the country's biggest oil refinery.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the hurricane was 65 miles (105 km) east-southeast of the port of Salina Cruz in southern Oaxaca state. Winds were blowing at a maximum 75 miles per hour (120 kph).
The storm was moving at around 10 mph, and the eye of the hurricane would make landfall within a couple of hours and then weaken rapidly, the center said.
Mexican state oil monopoly Pemex said earlier on Wednesday its biggest refinery with the capacity to process 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude, which is on the coast in Salina Cruz, was operating normally.
Ports for small vessels in the area have been closed, and emergency services in Oaxaca said they were starting to evacuate residents from some areas as a precaution, including the immediate vicinity of the refinery.
Barbara churned northeast at about 13 mph, and was expected to swing through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico's narrowest point, once it makes landfall later on Wednesday.
The NHC issued a hurricane warning from Oaxaca's Puerto Angel to Barra de Tonala, and a tropical storm warning from Barra de Tonala to Boca de Pijijiapan in Chiapas state.
Barbara was forecast to reach hurricane strength before it hits Mexico's southern coast, the center added.
Between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain is expected over eastern Oaxaca through western Chiapas once Barbara reaches land, along with a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) above normal tide levels.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you. Comments are welcome.
ivan