Towns along Mexico’s southwestern coast are currently facing severe weather conditions as tropical storm John has intensified back into a Category 1 hurricane, leading to torrential rain, flooding, and landslides. This phenomenon, known as a 'zombie' storm, occurs when a system dissipates before regaining strength as a storm.
After making landfall in Mexico as a destructive Category 3 hurricane earlier this week, John dissipated only to return as a hurricane, causing havoc along Mexico’s Pacific coast. The resort city of Acapulco, still in the process of recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Otis last year, has been particularly hard hit. Several neighborhoods are flooded, prompting residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate to temporary shelters.
With parts of Acapulco receiving over 500mm of rain this week and 431mm in the past 24 hours alone, the situation remains critical. Disturbing footage on social media captured a taxi being swept away by floodwaters with passengers inside, fortunately rescued by authorities. Emergency responders are actively engaged in rescue operations, utilizing rafts and boats to reach those stranded by rising waters.
As a precautionary measure, operations at the Acapulco airport have been suspended, and schools in the affected state have been closed until further notice. Rural communities surrounding Acapulco are also grappling with temporary power outages and disrupted market activities, hindering access to essential supplies.
The Mexican National Water Commission has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high waves in the southwestern region. In Guerrero’s Benito Juárez municipality, a river is on the brink of overflowing, raising concerns of potential flooding in the town of San Jerónimo. Residents are advised to steer clear of the riverbank and bridge areas to ensure their safety.
As of Thursday, Hurricane John was situated approximately 120 km west of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, with sustained winds of 120 km per hour. The storm is forecasted to bring substantial rainfall ranging from 10 to 20 inches across Guerrero and Michoacán by Friday, with up to six inches expected in Colima and western Oaxaca.
