Hurricane Rick strengthened a bit Sunday night as it made its way to the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, where it was expected to make landfall on Monday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Rick had winds of up to 90 miles per hour (150 kph) and was expected to hit somewhere around the Lázaro Cárdenas seaport and the Zihuatanejo resort. Forecasters said winds and rain from the storm could also affect Acapulco’s larger complex to the east.
The hurricane centered about 85 miles (135 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo Sunday night and was moving north at 5 mph (7 kph).
The center warned that Rick could lead to flash floods and landslides in mountainous coastal terrain.
“During its passage over land, it will cause heavy to torrential rains and possible landslides and floods, as well as increasing levels in streams and rivers, in the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco,” said the National Water Commission of Mexico in a statement.
The Lázaro Cárdenas seaport said it had opened six emergency shelters for residents who wanted to leave the low-lying areas. The Zihuatanejo authorities opened a shelter in the municipal auditorium.
Guerrero state, where Zihuatanejo and Acapulco are located, said rain and wind had already knocked down some trees and damaged a highway.
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