Metro-area mayors are urging residents to stay indoors as Hurricane Patricia hits Guadalajara late Friday or early Saturday. Experts at Mexico’s National Weather Center expect the hurricane to weaken as it moves inland and it may have been downgraded to category one or two, or even a tropical storm, by the time it reaches the city.
Nonetheless, intense rain and winds are anticipated as the storm moves across Jalisco.
Guadalajara Mayor Enrique Alfaro has advised citizens not to make unnecessary journeys and stay at home in the evening. Cancel parties, if possible, he said.
The Fiestas de Octubre and Expo Ganadera fairgrounds have both closed for the day. Various schools, including the Univa university, have suspended classes. Hewlett Packard has closed its three facilities in the city, and many businesses are sending staff home early.
Both Guadalajara and Zapopan have zones considered “seriously at risk” from flooding, in which 180,000 people live. The mayors have promised to provide additional emergency attention to these areas.