Latest news with #Category4
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Hurricane Erick barrels toward Mexico's Pacific coast, bringing destructive winds, deadly floods and 10-metre waves
MEXICO CITY, June 19 — Hurricane Erick was advancing rapidly near Mexico's southern Pacific coast as a Category 4 storm and was expected to make landfall today, authorities said, potentially bringing intense rains and life-threatening floods and mudslides. The storm, about 55 miles (about 85km) south-east of Punta Maldonado in the Mexican state of Guerrero, packed maximum sustained winds 140 mph (220km/h) that could be 'extremely destructive' near its core, the US National Hurricane Centre said in a report early today. With no certainty on where Erick would make landfall, a hurricane warning was in effect between the tourist enclaves of Acapulco and Puerto Angel. Scientists have warned that Erick could become the most intense hurricane along Mexico's Pacific coast this early in the season. 'The hurricane is expected to impact during Thursday morning as a powerful category 4 hurricane between Lagunas de Cha-cha, Oaxaca, and Punta Maldonado, Guerrero,' the Mexican Ministry Of Environment said in a statement. Up to 16 inches (about 41cm) of rain is expected to hit the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, according to NHC. People board up a BBVA bank branch as Hurricane Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca state, Mexico, June 18, 2025. — Reuters pic Threats to residents 'Heavy rainfall will lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,' NHC warned, as local authorities asked residents to remain vigilant. Mexico's national water commission, Conagua, gave a similar warning, adding that waves in coastal areas were reaching up to 10 metres high. Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara, in a post on X, urged residents to follow authorities' recommendations and said shelters were available for those in areas at risk. Mexican authorities have also been coordinating evacuation efforts for tourists in beach destinations, including Acapulco. — Reuters
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Category 4 Hurricane Erick Close To Landfall With A Familiar Story
Satellite image of Hurricane Erick on the morning of June 19, 2025. Hurricane Erick is expected to make landfall later this morning. In fact, by the time I finish writing this piece, the eye may have breached the Mexican coastline. At the time of writing around 7 am EDT, the hurricane was rated as a powerful Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. It was moving towards the region of Acapulco and Puerto Angel at 9 mph Here is the latest information about this major hurricane and expected impacts. Hurricane Erick on the verge of landfall on June 19, 2025. Hurricane Watches and Warnings are up along the Mexican coast. During the early morning hours of June 19, 2025, the National Hurricane Center wrote, 'On the forecast track, the center of Erick is expected to make landfall in the western portion of the Mexican state of Oaxaca or the eastern portion of the Mexican state of Guerrero within the next few hours, and then continue inland over southern Mexico later today.' Though the storm is expected to weaken after landfall, impacts will be felt well inland. Those impacts will include up to a foot or more of rainfall in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero and significant totals in surrounding regions. Dangerous flooding and mudslides, particularly within steep terrain, are likely. Additionally, extreme winds typical of a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) will impact the coasts and regions inland. NHC cautioned, "Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater." To the right of the eye, life-threatening storm surge will produce coastal flooding, large waves, swells, and rip currents. Expected rainfall from Hurricane Erick. Yesterday morning I warned, 'The forecast ultimately puts Erick at Category 2 level, but I would not rule out slightly higher intensity.' As expected, Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified, which means it gained at least 35 mph of sustained wind speed in less than 24 hours. This is a familiar story with landfalling hurricanes. Meteorologists Chris Dolce, Jon Erdman, and Johnathan Beiles wrote, 'Erick rapidly intensified from a 40 mph tropical storm Tuesday morning to Cat 4 intensity at midnight Thursday morning.' According to The Weather Channel experts, 'Erick may be the first known Cat 4 E. Pacific hurricane to landfall in Mexico prior to October in records dating to the late 1950s.' Because of the physical properties of water, stronger hurricanes are typically not expected until later in the season. However, the sea surface temperatures, wind shear patterns, and moisture have been optimal for Erick's intensification. Studies continue to link warmer ocean temperatures or marine heatwaves to recent rapid intensification. Rapid intensification is problematic because it shortens the window for preparation of such powerful storms. Sea surface temperature anomalies near the Mexican coast are warmer than normal.
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Hurricane Erick upgraded to Category 4, on track for landfall in Mexico
Hurricane Erick has been upgraded to an 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 storm and is expected to make landfall in southern Mexico in the coming hours, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, life-threatening floods and storm surges, the National Hurricane Center said Thursday. The hurricane is off Mexico's southern Pacific coast, about 70 miles from Puerto Ángel and 90 miles from Punta Maldonado, the NHC said in a public advisory. It is traveling about 9 mph and is expected to make landfall in the state of Oaxaca or Guerrero before moving inland, the agency said. A hurricane warning is in effect for areas from the resort city of Acapulco to the small coastal town of Puerto Ángel.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erick At Category 4 Intensity Nears Mexico Landfall With Life-Threatening Flooding, High Winds
Hurricane Erick is nearing a destructive landfall in southern Mexico at Category 4 intensity with life-threatening storm surge, rainfall flooding and high winds. Erick rapidly intensified from a 40 mph tropical storm Tuesday morning to Cat. 4 intensity at midnight Thursday morning. Just hours from landfall, Erick may be the first known Cat. 4 E. Pacific hurricane to landfall in Mexico prior to October in records dating to the late 1950s. (MORE: What Is Rapid Intensification?) Erick became the Eastern Pacific's second hurricane of the season early Wednesday morning, almost four weeks ahead of the season's average second hurricane pace. The season's fifth storm has historically formed by July 23, based on the 1991-2020 average. -Alerts: Hurricane warnings are posted for parts of Mexico's Guerrero and Oaxaca states, including Acapulco. Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings extend to the west and east of this hurricane warning, as shown in the map below. -Timing: Erick is just hours from landfall either over western Oaxaca or eastern Guerrero states east of Acapulco, and conditions will deteriorate rapidly with heavy rain and high winds. Once inland, Erick is expected to weaken rapidly and dissipate by late tonight or early Friday. -Intensity: As mentioned earlier, Erick will landfall as an intense hurricane, most likely a Category 4. -Surge, Wind Impacts: Erick's worst storm surge and devastating wind impacts will be along and just east of where the center comes ashore in parts of western Oaxaca and eastern Guerrero states. Those greatest threats will most likely be east of Acapulco, but strong wind gusts are also possible in the city, particularly over higher terrain. -Heavy Rain A More Widespread Threat: The heaviest totals of 8 to 12 inches, with locally up to 16 inches possible, are forecast in the Oaxaca and Guerrero states. Life-threatening flash flooding is likely and mudslides are a threat in the mountainous terrain near this coast.
Al Jazeera
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Hurricane Erick upgraded to Category 4 storm as it approaches Mexico
Hurricane Erick has become an 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 storm, hours before it is expected to pummel Mexico's Pacific coastline, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said. In its latest bulletin, the meteorological centre said Erick could grow even more powerful before making landfall in the eastern part of Guerrero state and the western part of Oaxaca state on Thursday morning. The major storm, which is travelling to the northwest at a rate of 15km/h (nine mph), will unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters have predicted. As it neared Mexico, the NHC reported that the hurricane's maximum sustained winds had increased to about 230km/h (145mph), putting it within the Category 4 wind speed range of 209-251km/h (130-156mph). The NHC warned that Erick could unleash up to 16 inches (40cm) of rain on Oaxaca and Guerrero, bringing the risk of 'life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain'. The Mexican states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco could also be hit by up to 6 inches of rainfall, the Miami-based centre added. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path was revised, as it is headed closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca. A hurricane warning is in place for the entire coastal area between Acapulco and Puerto Angel. Mexican authorities have scrambled to prepare residents and tourists ahead of Erick's arrival. In a video message on Wednesday night, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to stay at home or move to shelters if they were in low-lying areas. Some 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca to house those who have to leave their homes. Meanwhile, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said that schools in her state would stay closed, and that fishing and tourism operators had been told to make their boats storm ready. Residents in the Guerrero resort of Acapulco were among those steeling themselves for Erick's landfall. The city of almost one million people was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, which killed at least 52 people and destroyed many homes and businesses. Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach in the 2023 hurricane. On Wednesday, he oversaw workers as they stored tables and chairs in preparation for the new storm. 'Authorities' warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we've already been through,' he said. Elsewhere in the city, Veronica Gomez, a 40-year-old shipping company worker, suggested the city was much better prepared this time. 'Now it's not going to catch us by surprise,' she said. Erick is likely to rapidly weaken as it reaches the mountains, and it is predicted to dissipate on Thursday night or early Friday, according to the NHC.
