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 forecast to rapidly strengthen throughout the day and become a major hurricane as it approaches southern Mexico on Thursday, June 19.
As of 5 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday, Erick had upgraded to a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of nearly 110 mph and higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extended 25 miles, and tropical storm-force winds extended 90 miles from its center. It was centered about 85 miles south of Puerto Ángel, Mexico.
This map shows the projected path of the storm:
Hurricane Erick is rapidly intensifying and forecast to reach major status before hitting Mexico, the National Hurricane Center says. / Credit: Nikki Nolan/CBS News
The center of the storm was forecast to approach the coast of southern Mexico Wednesday night and move inland Thursday, prompting a hurricane warning from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane watch has been issued from west of Acapulco to Texpan de Ga
A tropical storm warning is also in effect for east of Puerto Angel to Salina Cruz and west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana.
The National Hurricane Center warned that Erick is rapidly intensifying and is forecast to become a major hurricane by Wednesday night. The storm is “expected to bring potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico late tonight and Thursday,” the Center said.
Hurricane Erick is rapidly intensifying and forecast to reach major status before hitting Mexico, the National Hurricane Center says. / Credit: Nikki Nolan/CBS News
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.”
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“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the center said of the area within a hurricane warning.
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.
Source: Accuweather
