Hurricane Erick doubles in power overnight, 120mph winds aim straight for Acapulco, still haunted by hurricane Otis

Hurricane Erick has rapidly strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane, packing 120 mph (195 kph) winds as it churns toward southern Mexico’s Pacific coast.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Erick was located about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south-southwest of Puerto Ángel late Wednesday(June 18) and moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph) toward a likely landfall Thursday morning(June 19).

What started as a tropical storm just days ago quickly became a major hurricane, the first of this Pacific season and one of the fastest-intensifying storms on record for this region. Officials warn of “devastating wind damage,” flash floods, and a life-threatening storm surge, particularly near its projected landfall close to Acapulco.


For many in Acapulco, the storm’s arrival reopened fresh wounds. Hurricane Otis exploded into a Category 5 monster overnight in October 2023, killing at least 52 people, leaving 32 missing, and flattening nearly every hotel along the coast.

This time, port authorities have banned anyone from staying on their boats, a fatal choice for many during Otis.

Calm before the chaos

Despite the warnings, parts of Acapulco were eerily quiet Wednesday afternoon, blue skies above, tourists still sunbathing on beaches. But others were rushing to prepare.

Red flags fluttered over Zicatela beach, warning of rough surf. Yet a few surfers defied orders, carving through waves as the sky darkened.

Authorities mobilize for an emergency

Mexico’s government is on high alert. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to shelter at home or in one of Guerrero’s 582 emergency shelters. Schools in Guerrero and Chiapas are closed, and fishing and tourism operators have been warned to secure equipment and evacuate if needed.

Civil defense officials said up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) of rain could drench the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, with flooding and deadly mudslides possible in the mountainous terrain. Puerto Escondido, near Erick’s southern edge, saw fishermen dragging boats from the surf under gray skies.

Storms are getting stronger, faster

Meteorologists warn that Erick’s rapid intensification reflects a worrying pattern. 34 storms worldwide rapidly intensified, doubling the yearly average. Such storms gaining over 35 mph in 24 hours are becoming harder to predict and more dangerous for vulnerable coastal communities.