Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale as it moved over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean south of Mexico on Wednesday. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Erick was located at latitude 14.2°N and longitude 96.3°W which put the center about 215 miles (345 km) southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico. Erick was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb.
A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Angel to Acapulco, Mexico.
A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Angel to Salina Cruz, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico.
A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane investigating Hurricane Erick on Wednesday afternoon found that Erick had rapidly intensified to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. A circular eye with a diameter of 15 miles (24 km) was present at the center of Erick’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Erick. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away in all directions from the hurricane. The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.
The distribution of winds speeds around Hurricane Erick was fairly symmetrical. Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of Erick’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Hurricane Erick.
Hurricane Erick will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Erick will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over southern Mexico and the adjacent part of the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Erick will intensify during the next 18 hours. Erick is likely to intensify rapidly. Hurricane Erick is likely to strengthen to a major hurricane by Thursday.
Hurricane Erick will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Central America and southern Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Erick toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Erick will move toward the coast of southern Mexico. Erick is likely to make landfall in southern Mexico between Acapulco and Punta Maldonado early on Thursday.
Hurricane Erick is likely to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on the coast of Mexico. Erick will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Michoacan. The strongest winds and heaviest rains will occur in Guerrero. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. Hurricane Erick could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along the coast.
