Hurricane Erick Strengthens to Category 1

Hurricane Erick is rapidly intensifying off Mexico’s Pacific coast and is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane by Thursday. It is expected to bring life-threatening flooding, storm surges, and mudslides to southern coastal regions of Mexico.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) reported that Erick became a Category 1 hurricane earlier today, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph), and is located about 130 miles (205 km) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca. It is moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).

“Rapid strengthening is expected today, and Erick may reach major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of southern Mexico Thursday,” the NHC warned.

Rainfall of up to 20 inches is forecast in Oaxaca and Guerrero. Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca, including Acapulco.

Despite current rains in Belize, Erick is not to blame for it, according to the National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS). Being that it is in the Pacific, “Erick is not going to have any effect on us. The approaching rains will be based on a tropical wave moving towards us,” a meteorologist from NMS told News 5.

Although Hurricane Erick is not expected to impact Belize, the Met Office reports that the country will experience unsettled weather conditions.

According to the latest forecast, skies will remain mostly cloudy throughout today and tonight. While only isolated showers are expected during the morning, rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast to increase across the country by this afternoon, particularly over northern and central regions.

Later tonight, showers, periods of rain, and thunderstorms will become more widespread, with the heaviest activity expected in southern areas.