By Todd Hamilton
Black Press
From Weather.com: Patricia rapidly organized and intensified from Wednesday night through early Friday. Maximum sustained winds with the storm increased 115 mph in a 24-hour window from 85 mph at 4 a.m. CDT Thursday to 200 mph at 4 a.m. CDT Friday.
During that same time, the minimum central pressure of Patricia also decreased 100 millibars, from 980 millibars to 880 millibars.
This places Patricia among the most rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones ever witnessed anywhere in the world since the advent of modern meteorology.
The following is a Q&A with former Smithers Interior News publisher Vic Swan riding out Hurricane Patricia in Puerto Vallarta. Patricia is now called the most powerful hurricane in history of modern meteorology … Category 5+.
Q&A with VIC SWAN:
Todd: How are you making out?
Vic: Nothing yet, just a little light rain. Landfall tonight, way south of us, so should get lots of rain and a little wind but we are on the right side of the storm. The big winds will be down in Manzanillo. Windows taped, water and food in safe room (no glass) ready to ride it out if it hits here.
Todd: They’re calling it the most powerful hurricane ever… stay safe my friend… update if possible… I’ll keep watchin’ for you… you booked your damn flight three weeks late it seems.
Vic: Yes that’s right. The condo complex has things pretty tight, our biggest problem is, “Do we have enough rum?”
Todd: Stay safe my friend … and keep updating … that is if you can … and if that fails … ration the rum with cervacas…
Vic: The government is shutting off electric, gas and water as of 2pm today, 6 minutes from now. Rum it is. Still no wind, very light rain, hopefully it stays that way.
Todd: STAY SAFE
Vic: Will do. Will advise when I can.
