This Wednesday, June 18, Hurricane Eric reached Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (out of 5) as it moved toward Mexico's southern Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.
The cyclone has intensified in recent hours and is expected to bring devastating winds and potentially deadly flash floods to several regions in southern Mexico starting tonight and continuing through Thursday.
Meteorological authorities warn that Erick could cause significant damage to infrastructure, power outages and landslides, and therefore urge the population to stay informed through official channels and follow the instructions of Civil Protection.
States 07:38 PM
Hurricane Erick is expected to make landfall this Thursday; Category 4 status is not ruled out.
Conagua forecast that Hurricane Erick, a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, will impact Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, and Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, during the early hours of Thursday. It did not rule out that it could reach Category 4 before making landfall, since the system is experiencing favorable ocean-atmospheric conditions for rapid intensification. In light of this, the National Meteorological Service (SMN), in coordination with the U.S. National Hurricane Center, indicated that it maintains a hurricane warning zone from Acapulco, Guerrero, to Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca; from west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero; from east of Puerto Ángel to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and from west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero.In addition, the agency detailed that due to its cloud detachments, extraordinary rains will continue in Oaxaca, torrential rains in Guerrero and Chiapas, as well as waterspouts off the coast of Oaxaca.In this sense, it warned that the rainfall could generate landslides, increased levels of rivers and streams, as well as overflows and flooding in low-lying areas of the aforementioned states, for which it urged the population to heed the warnings of the SMN and follow the recommendations of Civil Protection.
States 07:27 PM
The Navy's Relief Phase of the Plan is activated in Oaxaca and Guerrero.
Due to the weather conditions associated with Hurricane Erick, the Marine Plan has moved to the Relief Phase in Oaxaca and Guerrero. It has also been activated in its Prevention Phase in Veracruz, which is in addition to Colima, Tabasco, and Campeche.
The Relief Phase consists of minimizing the impact of disasters on the population, as well as protecting lives and property, facilitating the recovery of affected areas, and ensuring civil protection and citizen security.
The Navy ( Semar ) reported that as a result of this, an Emergency Response Brigade (BRE) was deployed from Mexico City to Oaxaca with the support of 100 naval elements.
In Oaxaca, the ports of Salina Cruz, Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel, and Huatulco are closed to all types of vessels; in Guerrero, the ports of Acapulco and Puerto Márquez are closed to small vessels.
The First Naval Region, based in Veracruz, is ready with 993 personnel, 315 members of the Emergency Response Brigade, 69 vehicles, nine ships, 18 boats, six aircraft, two mobile kitchens, and two power plants.
Read also Hurricane Erick: This is what it looks like from space; see its trajectory in real time
States 07:06 PM
A few hours before "Erick" makes landfall, Acapulco prepares for the onslaught
A few hours before Hurricane Erick hits the city, Acapulco residents are preparing to receive it.
All the convenience stores were packed, as dozens of people went out to buy groceries: water, eggs, rice, beans, toilet paper, soap. The same thing happened at the gas stations, where motorists lined up to fill their tanks.
State police and National Guard soldiers are guarding most stores to prevent looting, just as was experienced after Hurricane Otis. On the Miguel Alemán Coast, restaurants began closing at 1 p.m. At that time, workers were putting away chairs, tables, and tablecloths, but they also dismantled speakers and televisions. Department stores and supermarkets are working quickly to cover as much glass as possible with plywood."The instructions are to close, that tomorrow (Thursday) we will not open until further notice," says a waiter at one of the many restaurants that are just starting to reopen after Hurricane Otis and John. Authorities, as they did not do with Otis, are now repeatedly calling for everyone to take shelter in safe places and for those who cannot, to evacuate their homes and move to shelters. In a statement, the Guerrero government called on transporters to suspend public transport service starting at 8 p.m. and to store their vehicles to avoid risks to themselves and their passengers.States 06:09 PM
Hurricane Erick becomes Category 3
Hurricane Erick gained strength Wednesday to reach Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (out of 5) as it moves toward Mexico's southern Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The NHC bulletin states that at 00:00 GMT,"Erick" was located 90 kilometers from Puerto Ángel (south) with sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour, considered"potentially catastrophic."
States 05:26 PM
Rains intensify in Puerto Escondido
Rains intensify in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, as Hurricane Erick approaches, causing restaurants and businesses to protect windows and doors.
The waves are increasing at Bacocho Beach in San Pedro Mixtepec.
States 04:08 PM
The US warns its citizens in Guerrero and Oaxaca
The United States issued a natural disaster alert for its citizens in Oaxaca and Chiapas in response to Hurricane Erick, a Category II storm that it said was “rapidly intensifying.”
The U.S. Mission in Mexico also noted that Erick is expected to become a Category III hurricane or higher when it hits the coast of western Oaxaca and eastern Guerrero early Thursday. It noted that some airlines have already canceled flights to and from the area.
It warned that the natural phenomenon could cause potentially life-threatening waves and rip currents, and recommended that travelers avoid entering the water or walking on beaches during dangerous conditions, heed warnings from authorities, and stay tuned for official weather updates.
Other
recommendations issued by the United States to its citizens:
- Be alert to the progress of Hurricane Erick.
- Prepare to seek shelter. Consider travel to coastal areas of Oaxaca and Guerrero; this includes Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and Acapulco.
- Check with airlines because flight cancellations are expected to continue.
- Check road conditions before traveling.
- Monitor local media for updates, follow the instructions of local officials, and, in case of emergency, call 911. Monitor the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service.
- Keep friends and loved ones informed of your whereabouts by phone, text messages, and social media.
States 04:04 PM
Claudia Sheinbum asks the population of Oaxaca and Guerrero to go to shelters.
Because Hurricane Erick is now a Category 2 hurricane, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo asked the population of Oaxaca and Guerrero to go to shelters because it will hit the coasts of these entities in the early hours of Thursday.
Sheinbaum Pardo asked the population to remain in their homes, and if they live in low-lying areas and near riverbeds, to go to the shelters provided.
She indicated that classes have been suspended and the population is being alerted.
"Plan DN-III-E and the Navy are underway. Please be attentive to official information," the federal leader wrote on social media.
States 03:45 PM
Acapulco International Airport suspends flights
In light of Hurricane "Erick", the Acapulco International Airport reported that commercial flights scheduled for tomorrow, June 19, have been suspended.Through its X account, it also recommended that users contact their airline
to find out the status and tracking of their flight.
03:39 PM
Hurricane Erika is expected to hit as a"dangerous Category 3 hurricane."
"Because the system is in favorable ocean-atmospheric conditions for rapid intensification, Erick is forecast to impact Thursday morning as a dangerous Category 3 hurricane on the borders of Oaxaca and Guerrero," Conagua warned.
He warned that the rainfall could cause landslides, rising river and stream levels, and flooding in low-lying areas of the aforementioned states. Therefore, he urged the population to heed the warnings from the National Meteorological Service (SMN) of the same Commission and follow the recommendations of Civil Protection.
States 03:38 PM
Guerrero and Oaxaca under maximum surveillance
A hurricane watch zone is in effect from west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, and a tropical storm warning zone is in effect from east of Puerto Ángel to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. A tropical storm warning zone is in effect from west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero.
States 03:35 PM
Persistent rains in the south of the country, while the north faces extreme heat
The hot to very hot environment will continue over the northwest and north of the Mexican Republic, so an extremely hot environment is expected, with temperatures above 45 ° C in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua and Sinaloa; in addition to the heat wave prevailing in areas of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango and Sinaloa. Finally, tropical wave No. 4 was absorbed by the broad circulation of Hurricane Erick .
States 03:33 PMLow pressure channel will bring heavy rains to the Valley of Mexico.
A low pressure channel will cause showers and heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms in the Valley of Mexico, as well as in the northeast and east of Mexico. Heavy rains are forecast for Jalisco, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. States 03:32 PM
Erick will cause extraordinary to intense rains in the south of the country.
According to the forecast of the National Meteorological Service (SMN), it will interact with a low pressure channel in southeastern Mexico, bringing rain to several states.
Extraordinary rains are forecast in Oaxaca, torrential rains in Guerrero (east) and Chiapas, and intense rains in Puebla, Veracruz, and Tabasco. Heavy rains are also forecast in Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo; in addition to very strong to intense winds and high waves on the coasts of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas, as well as a storm surge on the coast of Oaxaca.
