According to the latest storm forecast, Erick is set to make landfall in the southern coastal area of Mexico on June 19 local time.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned: Ericks rabies could bring unprecedented heavy rains, deadly flooding, severe landslides and destructive gusts of wind.
As of 11am on June 18, Eastern time (EDT), Typhoon Erick had maximum sustained winds of 137 km/h, central pressure at 984 mb, moving northwest at 13 km/h.
Satellite imagery shows Erick forming an eye in the late morning of June 18, surrounded by an eye wall with severe thunderstorms and very cold clouds.
Thus, within just 1 day, from 8:00 a.m. on June 17 (EDT), Erick has strengthened by 72 km/h, far exceeding the rapid strengthening threshold - which was determined to increase by 56 km/h or more within 24 hours.
On the evening of June 18, the storm officially reached Category 3 on the 5-level Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, classified as a major hurricane. This is the first named storm of the year expected to make landfall in both the Atlantic and Pacific basins.
From the night of June 18 to the morning of June 19, the area from Puerto Angel to Acapulco (Mexico) was put under an emergency storm warning, with the risk of flash floods, high tides and high waves that could threaten life.
Strong gusts of wind, forecast to bring terrible rain from 200-400 mm, even up to 500 mm in some places, are targeting the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero - where the terrain is mountainous and prone to large-scale landslides.
The US Air Force's " Hurricane Hunters" have made their first flight into the Erick hurricane area to collect on-site data, supporting forecasts for the US National Hurricane Center.
"All preparations for protecting people and property should be completed urgently before the storm makes landfall," the US National Hurricane Center added.
Meanwhile, President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum has posted on social network X to call on people to proactively prevent natural disasters and follow the latest warnings.
The Pacific typhoon season runs from May 15 to November 30, but with Erick's early and strong "anger", a severe typhoon season is expected.
To date, Hurricane Erick is the fifth named storm in the eastern Pacific and a sign that ocean frost is rising earlier than every year.
