Hurricane Erick forms off Mexican coast, threatening flooding and mudslides

Tropical Storm Erick (NOAA via AP)

Hurricane Erick has formed in the Pacific Ocean on a forecast track to bring heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge and possible mudslides to southern coastal Mexico, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

Up to 20 inches of rain could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lighter amounts in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the Miami-based centre said in an advisory.