Patricia slams Mexico Pacific Coast as Category 5 hurricane

Storm bringing potential for 'catastrophic' damage

This satellite image taken at 1:45 p.m. EDT on Friday and released by NASA, shows the eastern quadrant and pinhole eye of Hurricane Patricia moving towards southwestern Mexico. The Category 5 storm is strongest ever in the Western Hemisphere, according to forecasters.

Tropical Weather Heal 2 — This satellite image taken at 1:45 p.m. EDT on Friday and released by NASA, shows the eastern quadrant and pinhole eye of Hurricane Patricia moving towards southwestern Mexico. The Category 5 storm is strongest ever in the Western Hemisphere, according to forecasters.

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Hurricane Patricia roared ashore in southwestern Mexico as a Category 5 storm Friday, bringing lashing rains, surging seas and cyclonic winds hours after it peaked as the strongest storm ever recorded. Forecasters said it had potential to do "catastrophic" damage. There were early reports of flooding and landslides, but no word on fatalities or major damage.

Associated Press

Associated Press