Hurricane Jova reaches Category Three status
Published:Tuesday | October 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP):
Hurricane Jova strengthened to a major, Category three hurricane yesterday as it marched toward Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening the idyllic beach resort of Barra de Navidad and one of the nation's biggest cargo ports.
Jova's maximum sustained winds built to near 125mph (201kph) and the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said it could reach Category Four strength, with winds of greater than 131mph (210kph) today before hitting land.
The forecast track would carry its centre near Barra de Navidad, south of the larger resort of Puerto Vallarta, late today.
Hotels in the hurricane's path were already taking precautions, though the sun continued to shine from time to time. Almost all the guests at the 199-room Grand Bay Hotel on Isla Navidad, just off the coast, were scheduled to check out.
Hotel employees were taping up windows, cleaning out water channels to avoid flooding and were planning to pull in all beach furniture later today as Jova gets closer.