Hurricane Patricia Hits Mexico, 'Catastrophic' Damage Possible

The strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere became slightly less ferocious as it came ashore on Mexico's west coast around 6:15pm local time, CNN reports. According to the AP, wind speeds dropped to 165mph—down from highs around 200mph—as Hurricane Patricia touched down near Cuixmala, 55 miles from the port city of Manzanillo. While not intense as originally predicted, Patricia still classifies as a Category 5 hurricane, and forecasters are warning of "potentially catastrophic" damage. CNN reports millions of people are in danger from flash floods, high surf, and major winds. (More severe weather stories.)