Hurricane Erick forms off Mexican coast, threatening flooding and mudslides
Hurricane Erick has formed in the Pacific Ocean on a forecast track to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, the US National Hurricane Centre 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 centre said in an advisory.
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The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.
Erick was located about 160 miles south-southeast of Puerto Angel and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It is moving north west at approximately 7mph.
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.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Erick strengthens into a Category 3 major hurricane approaching Mexico's coast
Southern Mexico's Pacific coast braced for a Thursday morning impact as Hurricane Erick spun toward shore as a powerful Category 3 major hurricane, threatening to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge on the region in coming hours, forecasters said. Swiftly strengthening from a Category 1 hurricane hours earlier, Erick had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (200 kph) by nightfall as it churned offshore about 55 miles (85 kilometers) southwest of Puerto Angel, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Erick was also about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Punta Maldonado and moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph) toward an expected landfall sometime early Thursday, according to the center's latest advisory. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of at least 111 mph (180 kph). Forecasters said further strengthening is expected and devastating wind damage is possible near where the eye crashes ashore. Storm moves south on approach Late Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centered on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. Earlier in the day, fishermen in Puerto Escondido pulled their boats out of the water ahead of the storm's arrival. Some surfers continued to ride waves at the Zicatela beach, even with red flags up to warn people to stay out of the water. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly 1 million 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 the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Acapulco still scarred by Otis Acapulco residents said they were bracing for Erick's arrival with more preparation and trepidation because of the memory of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Otis two years earlier. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said via X that all movement in Acapulco and other beach communities was to be suspended at 8 p.m. Schools across the state were to remain closed for a second day Thursday. Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach when Otis slammed the resort with devastating winds. On Wednesday, he directed workers storing tables and chairs. 'Authorities' warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we've already been through,' Ozuna Romero said in reference to Otis. Elsewhere, workers nailed sheets of plywood over shop windows and stacked sandbags outside doorways. Cars lined up to fill their tanks and shoppers made last-minute purchases before rushing home. Verónica Gómez struggled through the streets of Acapulco with a large jug of water. 'We're all afraid because we think the same thing could happen,' said the 40-year-old employee of a shipping company. But she said she and others learned a lot from Otis. 'Now it's not going to catch us by surprise," she said, holding out a bag of canned food as evidence. In Acapulco on Wednesday, there was a strong presence of National Guard and police in the streets, but most visible were trucks from the national power company. Crews worked to clear drainage canals and brush. Rain could be Erick's legacy Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from 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. Laura Velázquez, Mexico's national civil defense coordinator, said Erick was forecast to bring 'torrential' rains to Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The mountainous region along the coast is especially prone to mudslides with numerous rivers at risk of flooding. Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado said all schools would remain closed and the state had alerted all of the fishing and tourism operators to make their boats storm-ready. Acapulco's port closed Tuesday evening. Salgado said 582 shelters were set to receive people who might evacuate their homes. Sheinbaum warned in her daily briefing that those in the hurricane's path should heed government instructions and wait out the storm in their homes or designated shelters. Erick quickly doubled in strength Having doubled in strength in less than a day, Erick was churning through an ideal environment for quick intensification. Last year, there were 34 incidents of rapid intensification — when a storm gains at least 35 mph in 24 hours — which is about twice as many as average and causes problems with forecasting, according to the hurricane center. __ Sánchez reported from Acapulco, Mexico.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Hurricane Erick threatens Mexico as Category 2 storm strengthens
Hurricane Erick is expected to strengthen rapidly into a major Category 3 storm, before making landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday, Mexico's civil protection agency has storm, already a Category 2 hurricane, is likely to bring "potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods" to parts of southern Mexico, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds in the storm had risen to 175km/h (110mph) by Wednesday afternoon local time, with conditions favourable for it to President Claudia Sheinbaum told people in the storm's path to "stay tuned to official communications, to stay indoors, and not go out". Category 3 storms and above are considered major hurricanes, and pack wind speeds of at least 180km/h (111mph).Erick is likely to make landfall between the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency Laura Velazquez said, with at least 50cm (20 inches) of rain expected to are a risk in areas with steep 2,000 shelters have been set up across the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, all on the country's southern Pacific coast."If you are in low-lying areas, near rivers, near waterways, it is best for you to go to shelters, to the shelters that have already been set up for this situation," Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said. More than 18,000 first responders have been mobilised to prepare for the hurricane. It is expected to be the first to make landfall in Mexico this season, which runs from the start of June to the end of hurricane's impact was expected to be greatest on the Mexican coastline between Puerto Ángel, in Oaxaca, and Punta Maldonado, in Guerrero, authorities October 2023, at least 50 people were killed in Mexico during Hurricane Otis, a category 5 hurricane that battered Acapulco, also on Guerrero's Pacific intensified rapidly, meaning many people were unprepared when the hurricane made landfall.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Hurricane Erick path and updates as storm rapidly intensifies to Category 2
Erick is expected to become a major hurricane as it moves towards southern Mexico, with heavy rainfall and damaging winds being a major concern for the area Hurricane Erick, the fifth tempest of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, is gathering momentum as it heads towards Mexico. On Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Centre announced that Erick is predicted to intensify swiftly today and evolve into a significant hurricane as it nears southern Mexico by Thursday. ET Wednesday, Erick was upgraded to a Category 2 storm with nearly 100 mph sustained winds and higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend 15 miles, while tropical storm-force winds reach 105 miles from its centre. The storm is anticipated to strike the southern coast of Mexico Wednesday night and then move inland on Thursday. Consequently, there's a hurricane warning in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel, and a hurricane watch for areas west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, reports the Mirror US. A tropical storm warning is also in place from east of Puerto Ángel to Salina Cruz and for the area west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana. READ MORE: Miracle of seat 11A as singer survived fatal plane crash in exact same position The National Hurricane Centre reported that Tropical Storm Erick is accelerating in speed and is expected to develop into a major hurricane before making landfall. A major hurricane is classified as Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, which means it will have winds between 111 mph and 129 mph-enough to cause some serious damage, according to NOAA. Hurricane Erick is forecast to unleash heavy rain on Mexico, with between eight and 16 inches expected in some regions, and up to 20 inches in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. The National Hurricane Centre has warned that this could trigger severe flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas with rugged terrain. Meanwhile, the states of Chiapas, Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, and Mexico City are bracing themselves for two to four inches of rain. A storm surge is also predicted to hit the coast, causing sea levels to rise and leading to coastal flooding and destructive waves. One area expected to bear the brunt of the storm is Acapulco, which is still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in October 2023. Hurricane Otis made landfall as a Category 5 storm, bringing with it winds of up to 115 mph, and causing widespread damage and loss of life after its winds intensified at a record-breaking rate. "We are left with nothing," one woman told CBS. "Everything is damaged."
