Powerful Hurricane Karl makes landfall on Mexico’s Gulf coast

September 18th, 2010 - 1:09 am ICT by BNO News  

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Hurricane Karl on Friday made landfall as a powerful category three storm near the port city of Veracruz on Mexico’s Gulf coast, meteorologists said, downing trees and knocking out power and telephone services to several thousands of people.

“Mexican radar observations and satellite images indicate that the center of hurricane Karl made landfall on the southwest coast of Mexico about 10 miles (15 km) north of Veracruz, Mexico near 11:30 a.m. CDT (16:30 UTC),” the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Maximum sustained winds at landfall were estimated to be 115 mph (185 km/hr).

As of 1.00 p.m. CDT (1800 UTC) the center of Karl was located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Veracruz. Forecasters said its maximums sustained winds have decreased to 175 kilometers (110 miles) per hour, making it a category two hurricane.

A hurricane warning is in effect from the port of Veracruz to Cabo Rojo, and a hurricane watch is in effect for north of Cabo Rojo to La Cruz.

Karl is moving toward the west-southwest near 13 km/hr (8 mph) and a motion toward the west-southwest or west is expected during the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Karl should move farther inland over southeastern Mexico on Friday afternoon.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 km (25 miles) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 km (90 miles).

Besides strong winds, the hurricane is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 12 centimeters (5 inches) to 25 centimeters (10) inches across the central and southern Mexican gulf coast region, with isolated amounts of 38 centimeters (15 inches) possible in the interior mountains.

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