Hurricane Erick Strengthens to Category 4 as Mexico Braces for Impact

Hurricane Erick has intensified into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm as it nears Mexico’s southern Pacific coastline, with landfall expected Thursday morning in Guerrero and Oaxaca states, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed late Wednesday.

Packing sustained winds of 230km/h (145mph), Erick is moving northwest at approximately 15km/h (9mph). The storm’s maximum winds place it firmly within the upper bounds of Category 4 hurricanes, just below the threshold of the most severe Category 5 classification.

Forecasters warn of life-threatening conditions along the coast, including destructive winds, storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides, particularly in mountainous terrain. Up to 16 inches (40cm) of rainfall is expected in parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca, while other states — including Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco — could receive as much as 6 inches.

The hurricane’s projected path now brings it dangerously close to Puerto Escondido, a popular coastal resort in Oaxaca. A hurricane warning remains in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Angel, with officials urging residents and tourists to seek shelter.

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the nation Wednesday night, calling on residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate or stay in secure locations. More than 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up across Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca.

In Acapulco, a city still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in October 2023, preparations are in full swing. Governor Evelyn Salgado ordered schools closed and instructed fishing and tourism operators to secure their vessels.

“Authorities’ warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we’ve already been through,” said Carlos Ozuna Romero, a restaurant owner who lost his business during Otis. Workers across the city spent Wednesday tying down sandbags, boarding up windows, and storing equipment.

However, some residents expressed cautious optimism. “Now it’s not going to catch us by surprise,” said Veronica Gomez, a shipping worker in Acapulco.

Hurricane Erick is expected to rapidly weaken as it moves inland, with the NHC predicting dissipation by late Thursday or early Friday as the system encounters mountainous terrain.

With input from Al Jazeera.