Hurricane Erick strengthens on approach to Mexico’s Pacific coast

ACAPULCO, Mexico: Hurricane Erick raced toward Mexico´s Pacific coast on Wednesday as a Category 2 storm, the US National Hurricane Centre said, warning of the risk of deadly floods.

The NHC said it expected Erick to bring “damaging winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico” when it makes landfall early on Thursday.

Erick was 165-kms from the town of Puerto Angel in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers an hour, the meteorological center said.

It had strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane after reaching Category 1 on Wednesday morning.

“Rapid strengthening is expected to continue today, and Erick is forecast to reach major hurricane strength tonight or early Thursday as it approaches the coast of southern Mexico,” the NHC said.