Category 2 Hurricane Erick Races Towards Mexico: Acapulco Braces for Impact

Hurricane Erick, the fifth named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, is rapidly intensifying and barreling towards Mexico’s southern coast. After strengthening to a Category 2 hurricane Wednesday morning, packing winds near 100 mph, Erick is expected to become even stronger before making landfall.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a hurricane warning from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel, and a hurricane watch extends west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for a broader area. The storm’s projected path puts it on a collision course with Acapulco, a city still recovering from the catastrophic damage inflicted by Hurricane Otis just months ago.

Erick’s fury is expected to unleash torrential rainfall across southern Mexico. The NHC predicts 8 to 16 inches of rain in some areas, with a potential for up to 20 inches in Oaxaca and Guerrero states. This extreme rainfall poses a significant threat of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in mountainous regions.

Beyond the rain, a dangerous storm surge is forecast, threatening coastal flooding and destructive waves. Chiapas, Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, and even Mexico City are also bracing for heavy rains, though to a lesser extent than the coastal regions.

The NHC warns that Erick could become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) before landfall, escalating the potential for widespread devastation. The memory of Hurricane Otis, a record-breaking Category 5 storm that ravaged Acapulco in October 2023, casts a long shadow over the region as residents prepare for the imminent threat.

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