A satellite photo taken on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, shows Tropical Storm Erick forming, as shared by the U.S. weather agency. NOAA/AP
Hurricane Erick became a dangerous Category 3 storm on Wednesday evening. It quickly gained strength and now brings the risk of strong winds, floods, and deadly waves along Mexico’s southern coast.
Erick’s winds reached 120 mph as it moved closer to land. It was about 55 miles from Puerto Angel and 160 miles from Punta Maldonado. It was moving northwest at around 9 mph. Experts said it could grow even stronger before hitting land early Thursday.
Acapulco Braces for the Storm
The storm’s path could bring it near Acapulco. The city still remembers the horror of Hurricane Otis in 2023. That storm left 52 people dead and 32 missing. Otis also wrecked almost every hotel in the city.
This time, people are trying to be more prepared. The National Guard, police, and electric company crews are already working in the area. They’re clearing out drains and cutting brush. Some beaches have closed, but many tourists were still on the sand earlier in the day.
On one beach, a group of people waited as a backhoe helped pull their boats out of the water.
Residents Share Their Fears
Adrian Acevedo, a local boat operator, lost two boats and had one badly damaged during Hurricane Otis. He said no one expected that storm to be so strong. He now fears storms are getting worse because of warmer water.
Adrian said people used to ride out storms on their boats, but that choice cost many their lives during Otis. This time, the port is not allowing anyone to stay on board.
He warned that the sunny sky can fool people. “Otis was calm all day,” he said, “then strong winds came out of nowhere at night.”
Final Preparations Before Landfall
Some people rushed to finish storm prep. Francisco Casarubio, a choreographer, grabbed eggs and planned to buy rice and canned food. His home flooded during Otis, so he’s taking no chances.
Forecasters warned that Erick will bring heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous waves. Up to 16 inches of rain could hit the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco could also see rain and flooding.
A hurricane warning was in place between Puerto Angel and Acapulco. This meant people needed to finish all safety steps quickly.
Surfers Defy Warnings
Even as red flags warned people to stay out of the sea, some surfers continued to ride waves at Zicatela Beach. Wind hadn’t picked up much, but the storm's danger was growing by the hour.
Government Takes Action
Officials warned about mudslides and rivers overflowing. All schools closed in Guerrero, and 582 emergency shelters opened. Fishing and tourism workers were told to protect their boats. Acapulco’s port shut down Tuesday night.
The president urged everyone in the storm’s path to follow safety rules and stay indoors or go to shelters.
Erick doubled its wind speed in less than a day. Experts said storms like this are harder to predict, and they’ve become more frequent.
