A 105mph hurricane has become the strongest to ever make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific.

Hurricane Agatha came ashore in southern Mexico’s Oaxaca state on Monday afternoon, bringing torrential rain, stormy seas and forcing people into shelters.

It hit a sparsely populated area of beach towns and fishing villages.

Two highways were also blocked as mud and rocks slid on to the road, blocking access to one area of the state. Some towns also lost power and telephone lines went down, forcing authorities to communicate via radio.

The category two hurricane lost power as it moved inland and by Monday night was reclassified as a tropical storm with winds of about 70mph.

The worst of the weather should dissipate overnight, but the heavy rain is still a threat, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

Ten to 16 inches (25-41 centimetres) is expected in Oaxaca, with heavy downpours forecast in nearby states of Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco and eastern Guerrero.

Jeff Masters, meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections, said Agatha was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the region in May.

Underground drug-smuggling tunnel from Tijuana to Otay Mesa found on US-Mexico border

Ukraine war: Ukrainian refugees left in limbo in Mexico after US changes entry rules

Mexico: Twenty people shot dead at clandestine cockfight as drug gang violence worsens

“Since the African monsoon typically does not start producing tropical waves until early or mid-May, there simply aren’t enough initial disturbances to get many eastern Pacific hurricanes in May,” Mr Masters said.

“In addition, May water temperatures are cooler than they are at the peak of the season and wind shear is typically higher.”

Related posts:

COVID ‘likely’ transmitted from bats to humans via unknown animal, WHO report says Despite exta crews battling hard, hot and dry conditions in Turkey mean the wildfires rage on British troops ‘ran towards the explosion’ after Kabul terror attack, senior officer reveals New Zealand supermarket attacker was being monitored by ‘up to 30’ police officers Biden moves to declassify documents related to 9/11 terror attacks Brazilian president to face probe after linking COVID vaccines to AIDS Missing baby reunited with family after being handed to soldier over Kabul airport wall Novak Djokovic wins appeal against deportation from Australia ‘I applied, they approved. I have nothing else’: Transcript reveals Djokovic’s shock in border interview ‘People get nabbed’: Ukrainian refugees tell of life under Russian occupation Tropical Storm kills at least 25 people as Philippines hit by floods and landslides Cable car crash kills one before two plummet to death from rescue helicopter and others left dangling for days