Latest news with #Saffir-SimpsonWindScale
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Climate
- 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."
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erick forms near Mexico, rapidly intensifies on path in Pacific
Hurricane Erick — the fifth-named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season — is intensifying as it continues on a path toward Mexico. The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning that Erick is expected to rapidly strengthen throughout the day and "may reach major hurricane strength" as it approaches southern Mexico on Thursday. As of 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, Erick had sustained winds of nearly 75 mph, with higher gusts, extending 15 miles out from its center. The center of the storm was forecast to approach southern Mexico Wednesday night and move inland or be near the coast Thursday, prompting a hurricane warning from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane watch has also been issued from west of Acapulco to Texpan de Galeana, and from east of Puerto Angel to Bahias de Huatulco. The National Hurricane Center warned that rapid strengthening is expected and that Erick could reach major hurricane status before it reaches land. Major status begins at Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, with winds between 111 mph and 129 mph, strong enough to cause "devastating damage," according to NOAA. "Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends," NOAA says of the category's potential impacts. "Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes." Categories 4 and 5 have even greater impacts, with the ability to cause "catastrophic damage," the service says. That scale, however, just accounts for wind. "Water hazards — storm surge and inland flooding — have historically been the leading causes of loss of life during hurricanes," NOAA warns. "Hurricanes can also bring strong winds, tornadoes, rough surf, and rip currents." Erick is forecast to produce between 8 and 16 inches of rain, with maximum totals of 20 inches across the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, the National Hurricane Center said, leading to "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain." Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco are expected to see between 3 and 5 inches of rain. Dangerous storm surge, which is a rise in sea level during the storm, is also expected to create coastal flooding and be accompanied by "large and destructive waves." Teen questioned after family's quadruple murder Iranians evacuate capital Tehran, some say the regime is frightened Parents, brother of slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman speak about her death
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Zelia, with 180-mph gusts, strikes Western Australia
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall Friday on Australia's west coast as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained wind gusts at 180 mph, though minimal damage ensued. Zelia, the fifth named storm in the Australian region this season, was a Category 5 before reaching 30 miles east of Port Hedland at 12:30 p.m. local time. Pardoo Station recorded a peak wind gust of 75 mph and 17.16 inches of rain over a 48-hour period. Port Hedlan, which has a population of 15,000 people, is one of the world's busiest iron ore ports, according to the bureau. "This is a very dangerous system that will cause significant impact and is causing impacts as we speak," Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Matthew Collopy said in a report by News Az. By 7 p.m., the cyclone was downgraded to a Category 3 storm with winds of 93 mph as it moved south. Cyclone Zelia is the strongest storm to hit the Pilbara coast since Cyclone Ilsa in April 2023. Reported damage so far has been limited to toppled trees and some minor flooding. That includes Port Hedland International Airport, which has plans to resume service Sunday. "Whilst we've got a few trees down, some localized flooding in our entry into the actual airport we have come, we are hoping, relatively unscathed," airport CEO Hayley Vale told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "We are lucky we have got a relatively new terminal, we have had some water ingress into it that we can see but nothing major." Three weeks ago Tropical Cyclone Sean went near Western Australia as a Category 4 storm, the second storm of the season. The hurricane season in Australia goes from November to April. Hurricanes are also tracked in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The northwest coast of Western Australia has the most cyclones in the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Since 1961, Australia's mainland has had 18 other storms rated Category 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale.
