”Devastating wind damage is likely when the eye reaches land”, NHC wrote earlier. ”Life-threatening floods and landslides are likely”.
Erick was classified for a while as category 4 on the five-grade hurricane scale. The winds usually subside somewhat over land, and on Thursday afternoon it was a 3.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has ordered the entire region to shut down and everyone to stay at home or in shelters.
The new storm comes at the same time as the tourist resort Acapulco has barely recovered from hurricane Otis two years ago.
Experts have warned that human-induced climate changes make hurricanes often grow unexpectedly quickly in strength, which has also been the case with Erick. NHC emphasizes that this makes forecasts more difficult and warning systems worse.
