Hurricane Erick forms near Mexico, rapidly intensifies on path in Pacific

Hurricane Erick – The fifth storm named from the Hurricane season in the East of the North Pacific – intensifies while it continues on the way to Mexico. The National Hurricane Center said On Wednesday morning, Erick is expected to strengthen quickly throughout the day and “can reach the strength of major hurricanes” as South Mexico approaches on Thursday.

On Wednesday at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Erick supported winds of almost 75 mi / h, with higher gusts, extending 15 miles from his center. The center of the storm had to approach southern Mexico on Wednesday evening and move inside the land or be near the coast on Thursday, causing a warning warning from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane watch was also published from western Acapulco to Texpan de Galeana and East of Puerto Angel in Bahias de Huatulco.

The National Hurricane Center warned that rapid strengthening is planned and that Erick could reach the status of major hurricane before reaching land. The major status begins in category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, with winds between 111 MPH and 129 MPH, strong enough to cause “devastating damage”, according to the NOAA.

“Well -built supervised houses may undergo significant damage or the elimination of roof terraces and gable ends,” explains the Noaa about the potential impacts in the category. “Many trees will be broken or uprooted, blocking many roads. Electricity and water will not be available for several days at weeks after the storm.”

Categories 4 and 5 have even greater impacts, with the capacity to cause “catastrophic damage”, according to the service. This scale, however, represents only the wind.

“”Risks – Storm waves and interior floods – were historically the main causes of loss of life during hurricanes, “warns the Noaa”. Hurricane can also bring strong winds, tornadoes, gross surfing and shore currents. “”

Erick should produce between 8 and 16 inches of rain, with a maximum of 20 inches through the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, said the National Hurricane Center, leading to “potentially deadly floods and mud shifts, especially in steep field zones”. Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco should see between 3 and 5 inches of rain.

The push of the dangerous storm, which is an increase in sea level during the storm, should also create coastal floods and be accompanied by “large and destructive waves”.