Roslyn, now a Category 4, headed for Mexico

Hurricane expected to impact Puerto Vallarta

MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Roslyn grew to Category 4 force on Saturday as it headed for a collision with Mexico’s Pacific coast, likely north of the resort of Puerto Vallarta.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Roslyn’s maximum sustained winds stood at 130 mph at midafternoon Saturday.

The storm was centered about 115 miles south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes — the point of land jutting into the Pacific south of Puerto Vallarta — and moving north-northwest at 9 mph.

The forecast called for Roslyn to begin shifting to a northward movement and then northeast, putting it on path that could take it close to Cabo Corrientes and the Puerto Vallarta region on Saturday night or early Sunday before making landfall in Nayarit state on Sunday morning.

Hurricane Orlene made landfall Oct. 3 a little farther north in roughly the same region, about 45 miles southeast of the resort of Mazatlan.

Hurricane-force winds extended out 30 miles from Roslyn’s core, while tropical storm-force winds extended out to 80 miles, the U.S. hurricane center said.

Mexico issued a hurricane warning covering a stretch of coast from Playa Perula south of Cabo Corrientes north to El Roblito and for the Islas Marias.

Seemingly oblivious to the danger just hours away, tourists ate breakfast at beachside eateries around Puerto Vallarta and smaller resorts further north on the Nayarit coast, where Roslyn is expected to hit.

While skies began to cloud up, waves remained normal, and few appeared to be rushing to take precautions.

“The place is full of tourists,” said Patricia Morales, a receptionist at the Punta Guayabitas hotel in the laid-back beach town of the same name. “They (authorities) haven’t told us anything.”

The Nayarit state government said the hurricane is expected to make landfall Sunday around the fishing village of San Blas, about 90 miles north of Puerto Vallarta.

The National Water Commission said rains from Roslyn could cause mudslides and flooding.