Hurricane Erick forms off Mexico's Pacific coast and threatens to bring flooding and mudslides
Erick was located about 160 miles (257 kilometers) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (121 kph). It was moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph).
Erick is expected to be at or near major hurricane status as it approaches the Mexican coast on Thursday. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of 111-129 mph (180-210 kph).
The storm's projected path would take its center near the resort of Acapulco, which was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared.
Advertisement
At least 52 people died in Otis and 32 were missing, after the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels.
Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said Tuesday that lessons were learned from that storm. She said all schools in the state would close Wednesday and said 582 shelters were prepared to receive people who might evacuate their homes.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Acapulco to Puerto Ángel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane center advisory.
Advertisement
Heavy rainfall up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) was forecast for parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with as much as 8 inches (20 centimeters) set to fall in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Hurricane Erick expected to bring life-threatening flash flooding, possible mudslides to southern Mexico
Hurricane Erick formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday morning about 160 miles south-southeast of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and is expected to rapidly intensify before making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC said that Erick had reached 75 mph in its latest update, officially designating it as a hurricane. Erick is currently a Category 1 hurricane. Advertisement Once a tropical storm's winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane and maintains the same name it had when it was a tropical storm. Erick is the fifth named storm of this year's Eastern Pacific hurricane season, and it could be the first named storm in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins to make landfall. Erick forecast to rapidly intensify before landfall The NHC said that Erick is expected to rapidly intensify before making landfall. Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone's maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph within 24 hours. The NHC said that Erick had reached 75 mph in its latest update, officially designating it as a hurricane. AP Advertisement Erick could reach major hurricane strength if it intensifies faster than current forecasts show. A major hurricane is defined as a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is expected to approach the coast of southern Mexico by Wednesday night and move inland or be near the coast Thursday, according to the NHC. Life-threatening flash flooding possible along southern coast of Mexico Mexico's government has issued a Hurricane Warning from Puerto Angel to Acapulco, with other tropical weather alerts issued both south and north of the expected landfall location along the country's southern coast. The NHC also warned that storm surge is expected to produce life-threatening coastal flooding as early as Wednesday night; swells and rip currents are also expected at that time. Advertisement Mexico's government has issued a Hurricane Warning from Puerto Angel to Acapulco. REUTERS 'Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,' wrote the NHC in a Wednesday morning outlook, regarding areas within the Hurricane Watch. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo took to X on Tuesday to ask residents to be aware of the latest conditions and alerts ahead of the storm making landfall. Heavy rain from Hurricane Erick could produce mudslides The NHC forecast 8-16 inches of rain will fall close to the coast. Localized pockets of up to 20 inches of rain are possible in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Advertisement The NHC warned that the heavy rain could produce life-threatening mudslides along the mountainous terrain that hugs Mexico's southern coast. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to Nov. 30.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Pacific tropical storm Erick becomes hurricane
Tropical storm Erick was upgraded to a hurricane on Wednesday. Image from National Hurricane Center. June 18 (UPI) -- Pacific Tropical Storm Erick was upgraded to a hurricane early Monday morning, with sustained winds of 75 miles per hour. In its 7 EDT update, the National Hurricane Center said that Erick was situated about 160 miles south-southeast of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and about 275 miles southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, moving at 7 mph. Southern Mexico could begin experiencing hurricane conditions and flash flooding Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, the advisory states. Acapulco to Puerto Angel is currently under a hurricane warning, while a hurricane watch has been issued for the area west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana and East of Puerto Angel to Bahias de Huatulco. The region betwen Puerto Angel and Salina Cruz is under a tropical storm warning. Oaxaca and Guerrero will receive between 8 and 16 inches of rain, with up to 20 inches, the NHC said. "The rainfall will lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain," the advisory states.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Hurricane Erick forms off Mexico's Pacific coast and threatens to bring flooding and mudslides
MEXICO CITY — Hurricane Erick formed Wednesday in the Pacific Ocean on a forecast track to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, forecasters said. Up to 20 inches of rain could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lighter amounts in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. The Category 1 storm on Wednesday morning was located about 160 miles south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It was moving northwest at 7 mph. Erick is expected to be at or near major hurricane status Thursday as it approaches the Mexican coast on Thursday, where it could make landfall. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of 111-129 mph. The storm's projected path would take its center near the resort of Acapulco, which was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and 32 were missing, after the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said Tuesday that lessons were learned from that storm. She said all schools in the state would close Wednesday and said 582 shelters were prepared to receive people who might evacuate their homes. A hurricane warning was in effect for Acapulco to Puerto Ángel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane center advisory. Heavy rainfall up to 20 inches was forecast for parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with as much as 8 inches set to fall in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states.
