Hurricane Willa facts for kids

Willa's track, showing its path and strength.

Hurricane Willa as seen from space.

Hurricane Willa was a very powerful storm that formed in the Pacific Ocean in October 2018. It grew into one of the strongest types of hurricanes, a Category 5. This big storm was heading towards the coast of Mexico, especially threatening the state of Sinaloa.

Willa was the third hurricane in 2018 to reach Category 5 strength. The other two were Hurricanes Lane and Walaka, which formed earlier that year. Before Willa made landfall, people in western Mexico were given special warnings. These warnings told them to prepare for a hurricane or a tropical storm. Willa caused a lot of damage and impacted lives near where it hit the land.

Understanding Hurricane Willa

How Strong Was Willa?

Hurricanes are measured on a scale from Category 1 to Category 5. A Category 5 hurricane is the strongest kind. It has super fast winds, sometimes over 157 miles per hour (252 kilometers per hour). These winds are strong enough to cause huge damage to buildings and trees. Willa reached this top strength, making it a very dangerous storm.

Willa's Path and Warnings

Hurricane Willa started far out in the Pacific Ocean. It quickly grew stronger as it moved closer to Mexico. As it got closer, weather experts issued "hurricane watches" and "tropical storm warnings." A hurricane watch means a hurricane might hit within 48 hours. A tropical storm warning means a tropical storm is expected within 36 hours. These warnings help people get ready and stay safe. Many people living near the coast had to leave their homes to avoid the storm.

What Was the Impact?

When Hurricane Willa hit Mexico, it brought very strong winds and heavy rain. The storm caused a lot of damage, especially in the areas where it first came ashore. Homes were damaged, and some areas experienced flooding. The heavy rains also caused rivers to overflow their banks. This led to more flooding in places like the Nueces River area. The storm affected many communities and caused a lot of clean-up work afterward.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Willa nearing landfall in Sinaloa on October 23.

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  Landsat image of the Nueces River overflowing its banks, November 1, 2018.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Willa para niños