Mazatlán, Mexico – Hurricane Orlene made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast near the tourist town of Mazatlán on Monday, with winds of more than 80mph (130km/h) before quickly weakening over western Mexico.
Electrical cables swayed and sent off showers of sparks in the town of El Rosario, about 40 miles (65km) south of Mazatlán, close to where the hurricane hit.
Orlene lost some strength after roaring over the Islas Marías. The hurricane’s winds slipped back to 85mph as it hit land about 45 miles (75km) south-east of Mazatlán on Monday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Authorities did not immediately report any damage, but along the coast they suspended classes, closed seaports and set up shelters.
By midday, Orlene had weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 10 mph (17 kph). The storm was 60 miles (95 kilometers) east of Mazatlán.
A tropical storm warning was in effect from San Blas to Mazatlán, but the storm was expected to dissipate Monday night or early Tuesday.