Hurricane Erick Intensifies to 145 mph Winds, Threatens Southern Mexico

Hurricane Erick, a Category 4 storm, was approaching the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, with an expected impact on Thursday morning. The U.S. National Hurricane Center described the storm as "extremely dangerous," warning of destructive winds, flash floods, and a dangerous storm surge as the eye of the hurricane made landfall.

The storm was located approximately 70 miles west-southwest of Puerto Angel and 90 miles southeast of Punta Maldonado, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and moving northwest at 9 mph. A Category 4 hurricane is defined by wind speeds ranging from 130 to 156 mph.

Late Wednesday, the projected path of Hurricane Erick shifted southward, bringing it closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state. The storm was centered on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between Puerto Escondido and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a video message urging residents to stay indoors or move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas, as all activities in the region were suspended.

In Puerto Escondido, waves were crashing onto the esplanade, swamping wooden fishing boats and submerging some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases were made before stores closed and streets emptied. Earlier in the day, fishermen had pulled their boats out of the water, and some surfers continued to ride waves despite red flags warning people to stay out of the water.

The shift in the storm's course could provide relief for residents of Acapulco, which was devastated by Hurricane Otis in October 2023. Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm, rapidly intensified and caught many residents unprepared, resulting in at least 52 deaths and severe damage to nearly all of the resort's hotels.

Residents of Acapulco were preparing for Erick's arrival with more caution due to the memory of Hurricane Otis. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado announced that all movement in Acapulco and other beach communities would be suspended at 8 p.m., and schools across the state would remain closed for a second day on Thursday.

Carlos Ozuna Romero, who lost his restaurant during Hurricane Otis, was directing workers to store tables and chairs. He expressed fear and trepidation due to the authorities' warnings, which reminded him of the devastation caused by Otis. Elsewhere, workers were boarding up shop windows and stacking sandbags outside doorways, while cars lined up to fill their tanks and shoppers made last-minute purchases.

Verónica Gómez, an employee of a shipping company, struggled through the streets of Acapulco with a large jug of water, expressing fear but also a sense of preparedness. She noted that the community had learned from the experience of Hurricane Otis and would not be caught by surprise again.

In Acapulco, there was a strong presence of National Guard and police, but most visible were trucks from the national power company. Crews were working to clear drainage canals and brush. Forecasters warned that Erick was expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and a fierce storm surge to Mexico's Pacific coast. Rains of up to 16 inches could fall across the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.

A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel, urging residents to rush preparations to protect life and property. Laura Velázquez, Mexico’s national civil defense coordinator, warned of "torrential" rains in Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas, with the mountainous region along the coast being especially prone to mudslides and river flooding.

Guerrero Gov. Evelyn Salgado announced that all schools would remain closed and that the state had alerted all fishing and tourism operators to make their boats storm-ready. Acapulco’s port closed on Tuesday evening, and 582 shelters were set to receive people who might evacuate their homes. President Sheinbaum warned residents in the hurricane's path to heed government instructions and wait out the storm in their homes or designated shelters.

Hurricane Erick quickly doubled in strength in less than a day, churning through an ideal environment for rapid intensification. The hurricane center noted that there were rapid intensification events last year, which is about twice as many as average and causes problems with forecasting.