Tropical Storm John made landfall near Aquila, Michoacán, just before noon on Friday, bringing heavy rainfall and severe weather to Mexico’s Pacific coast. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) has issued warnings for residents in four states—Michoacán, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco—to brace for flash flooding and mudslides as the storm continues to track along the southwestern coast.
The SMN predicts “extraordinary” rainfall in Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero, with torrential rain expected in Jalisco. These conditions could result in catastrophic flash floods and mudslides across the region. Tropical Storm John is expected to reach Manzanillo, Colima, later tonight.
In response to the impending danger, the federal government has deployed 25,000 soldiers, sailors, and National Guard members to assist affected areas, where officials are already working to rescue people trapped by floodwaters.
John first made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Monday near Punta Maldonado, Guerrero. After weakening slightly, it regained strength over the Pacific before reentering mainland Mexico on Friday as a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 75 km/h.
Acapulco, one of the hardest-hit areas, experienced nearly a meter of rain over the past four days, leaving many neighborhoods submerged. On Thursday, authorities were using boats to rescue people from flooded areas. Power outages affected nearly 100,000 residents across Guerrero between Tuesday and Thursday.
The storm has already claimed lives, with reports stating that eight people have died in Guerrero and two in Oaxaca. Other sources have put the death toll in Guerrero as high as 13.
This video was taken in Acapulco.
Reuters described Tropical Storm John as a “zombie hurricane”—a term used for weather systems that weaken before regaining strength—due to its erratic path and prolonged impact on Mexico’s southwestern coast.
The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) has forecast tropical storm conditions to continue throughout Friday for coastal regions between Punta Maldonado and Manzanillo. The SMN anticipates that John will weaken to a tropical depression by Saturday and transition into a post-tropical cyclone as it moves out to sea. However, significant rainfall is still expected along Mexico’s central Pacific coast.
