Oaxaca, Mexico — Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) says current Tropical Storm Erick could strengthen to a major category 3 hurricane before making landfall on the borders of Oaxaca and Guerrero. A hurricane watch is currently in effect for several Pacific coastal areas.
Erick is forecast to make landfall Wednesday night or early Thursday morning at least as a category 2. The Government of Mexico, through the National Water Commission (Conagua) and the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), say people and local authorities need to implement protection strategies against the effects of Erick.
Erick is currently gaining strength off the coast of Oaxaca and Chiapas. The National Hurricane Center established a hurricane preparedness zone from Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca, to Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, a hurricane watch zone from Punta Maldonado to Acapulco, Guerrero, and from Puerto Ángel to Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, and a tropical storm preparedness zone from Puerto Ángel to Bahías de Huatulco.
The head of the National Meteorological Service (SMN) announced that, according to the forecast, it will gain a category 1 hurricane status in the early hours of Wednesday, increasing to category 2 by the afternoon.
Authorities say “the forecast conditions show a possible rapid intensification scenario that Erick could become a major hurricane (category 3 or higher) before making landfall on the borders of Oaxaca and Guerrero on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.”
Heavy rains of 75 to 150 millimeters are forecast to continue in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz (south), as well as wind gusts of 60 to 80 km/h (37 to 50 mph) along the coasts of Oaxaca and Chiapas; 30 to 50 km/h (19 to 31 mph) along the coast of Guerrero and waves of 2.5 to 3.5 meters (8.2 to 11.2 feet) high along the coasts of Oaxaca and Chiapas, and 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5.9 to 8.2 feet) along the coast of Guerrero are forecast.
Head of the Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC), Laura Velázquez Alzúa and the Director of the National Civil Protection Communications Center, Nadia Leticia Tadeo Benítez, reported that actions are implemented before, during, and after the formation of tropical cyclones with the goal of protecting the lives of the population, their property, and their environment, as well as the strategic infrastructure of the states.
Regarding Erick, authorities say nine alerts have been issued and disseminated through the Early Warning System and a session of the Inter-Institutional Tropical Cyclone Response Group was held.
Authorities said that following instructions from the President of Mexico, a CNPC Liaison and Coordination Mission was deployed to the area with the goal of strengthening coordination between the three levels of government and ensuring timely assistance to the population.
Currently, 2,080 temporary shelters are available in the three affected states of which the necessary ones will be activated based on local needs: 995 in Chiapas, 592 in Guerrero and 493 in Oaxaca.
The Eastern Pacific has had a very active season so far this year, while the Atlantic Basin has remained quiet without so much as a first-named storm.
