Tropical Storm Erick, brewing in the eastern Pacific, is rapidly intensifying and poses a significant threat to Mexico's southern coast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that the storm reached tropical storm strength on Tuesday, June 17th, with sustained winds of 45 mph.
Erick is forecast to become a hurricane by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, June 18th. The NHC predicts that the storm could reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher) as it approaches the coast of southern Mexico on Wednesday night and Thursday, June 19th.
Hurricane warnings are in effect from Puerto Angel to Punta Maldonado, with a hurricane watch extending west to Acapulco. Heavy rainfall, potentially reaching 8 to 16 inches with maximum totals of 20 inches, is expected across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, raising the risk of life-threatening floods and mudslides.