Tropical Storm Priscilla strengthened overnight in the eastern Pacific, gaining organization and wind speed as it churned several hundred miles off Mexico’s Pacific coast, according to Mexican and U.S. meteorological agencies. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had become a well-defined tropical cyclone and was expected to produce life-threatening surf, coastal flooding and intense rainfall along parts of Mexico’s southern and southwestern coastline over the coming days.

Mexico’s National Water Commission, CONAGUA, issued tropical storm warnings for sections of the Guerrero and Oaxaca coasts and elevated alert levels in Michoacán and Colima, where state civil protection agencies placed vulnerable towns on evacuation watch. “We are issuing mandatory evacuations for low-lying and riverine communities and recommending that those in unstable mountainsides move to higher ground,” a senior official from Protección Civil said, urging residents to heed local orders and prepare emergency kits.

The NHC forecast that Priscilla would move slowly northwestward, keeping its core over open water but close enough to deliver torrential rain inland. Meteorologists warned of total rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches in parts of the affected states, with isolated totals near 15 inches likely in higher terrain. Those amounts raise the prospect of flash floods and mudslides in regions still scarred by previous seasonal storms and where deforestation has left slopes more vulnerable.

Coastal towns dependent on tourism and fishing took immediate precautions. Port authorities in Acapulco and smaller harbors along the Costa Chica suspended operations and called fleets back to port. Hotels and resort operators in well-known seaside destinations temporarily closed beachfront areas and shifted guests away from exposed zones. “We’ve boarded up the lowest floors and moved people inland by request of the municipal authorities,” said a hotel manager in Acapulco, adding that tourism revenue could suffer further if the storm lingers through the peak season.

Priscilla’s arrival has regional economic implications beyond immediate damage. Disruptions to coastal transportation and fishing—already strained by rising fuel costs and global supply-chain disruptions—could ripple into markets for seafood and port logistics. International monitoring agencies, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, continued to coordinate forecasting with Mexican counterparts to refine the storm’s track and intensity, highlighting the binational nature of Pacific hurricane preparedness.

Climate scientists caution that warmer ocean temperatures are contributing to stronger tropical systems worldwide, increasing the urgency for robust coastal planning and disaster response. Local officials said that lessons from recent seasons, including improved early-warning communications and pre-positioned relief supplies, have helped mitigate risk but that resources remain thin in isolated indigenous and rural communities.

As Priscilla approaches, authorities emphasized the uncertainty that still attends storm forecasting and the importance of timely information. “The primary danger from Priscilla is heavy rain inland rather than immediate wind damage on the coast,” a CONAGUA forecaster said. “Stay alert, stay informed, and follow the instructions of local civil protection teams.” Emergency lines and shelters have been activated, and officials said they were prepared to request national assistance if the storm’s impacts escalate.