Hurricane Lidia, a powerful Category 4 storm, hit Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday night, leaving one person dead and causing widespread damage in several states. The storm, which had maximum sustained winds of 210 km/h, made landfall near the town of San Blas in the state of Nayarit, where it reportedly killed a fisherman who was swept away by the waves.

Lidia then moved inland over west-central Mexico, weakening to a Category 2 storm with winds of 110 km/h. However, it still brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the region, triggering floods, landslides, power outages and road closures. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Lidia dumped up to 20 cm of rain in some areas, with isolated amounts of up to 30 cm.

The storm affected several states, including Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero. In Nayarit, officials reported that 136 people sought shelter in temporary accommodations set up by the authorities. They also worked to clear fallen trees and debris that blocked Federal Highway 200 in the Bahía de Banderas municipality.

In Jalisco, the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta suffered significant damage from Lidia. The Civil Defense authorities posted photos and videos on social media showing flooded streets, canals and buildings, as well as roofs and signs being blown away by the wind. They also urged residents and visitors to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

In Colima, the governor said that Lidia caused minor damage to infrastructure and crops, but no casualties or injuries. He also announced that schools would remain closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. In Michoacan and Guerrero, the authorities reported some flooding and landslides, but no major incidents.

By Wednesday morning, Lidia had dissipated as it moved over the mountains of western Mexico. The NHC issued its last advisory on the storm at 0400 GMT, saying that it no longer posed a threat. However, it warned that some residual moisture from Lidia could still produce heavy rainfall and flash floods in parts of central and northern Mexico.

Hurricane Lidia was the twelfth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. It was also the second major hurricane to make landfall in Mexico this year, after Hurricane Grace in August. According to meteorologists, Lidia was an unusual storm because it formed in a region where hurricanes are rare and reached a high intensity in a short time.