Mexico: Remnants of Tropical Storm John tracking northwestward across southwestern Michoacan State afternoon Sept. 27 /update 7

Remnants of Tropical Storm John are tracking northwestward across southwestern Michoacan State, Mexico, on the afternoon of Sept. 27 following landfall near Aquila earlier in the day. The storm previously made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane south-southwest of Marquelia, Guerrero State, late Sept. 23, before weakening into a tropical depression and moving back out into the Pacific Ocean Sept. 24. John then reformed over open water Sept. 25 before heading back towards western Mexico. As of 15:00 CST, the system's center of circulation was approximately 150 km (90 miles) west-northwest of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan State.

Forecast models indicate that John will dissipate over the coming hours. Some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast, and changes could occur over the coming days.

As of the afternoon of Sept. 27, authorities have rescinded all coastal watches and warnings. Additional rainfall totals of 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) with localized totals up to 13 cm (5 inches) are forecast across Guerrero and Michoacan states through Sept. 28 and 2.5-7.5 cm (1-3 inches) over Colima and western Oaxaca states through Sept. 27.

Several ports are closed to small vessels, including Acapulco, Puerto Marquez, and Zihuatanejo in Guerrero State, as well as Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan State. Authorities have opened hundreds of shelters across parts of Guerrero and Michoacan states. Schools are closed across parts of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Oaxaca. Acapulco International Airport (ACA) is closed until further notice. More than 500 residents near the Huacapa River have been evacuated. At least 19 neighborhoods in Acapulco are flooded and almost 20,000 people were without power; around 1,200 people were in emergency shelters. Authorities in Acapulco and Chilpancingo have requested the federal government to issue declarations of emergency.

Flooding, landslides, blocked roads, power outages, and other associated disruptions have been reported across parts of Guerrero and Oaxaca since the storm first made landfall. Authorities have reported at least 13 storm-related fatalities in Guerrero and three fatalities in Oaxaca. At least 300 homes have been flooded in parts of Guerrero State. At the height of the storm, more than 206,000 people in Guerrero and Oaxaca were without power. Additional adverse weather associated with the storm will likely exacerbate the situation in affected areas.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and those with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. If weather conditions prove hazardous, localized evacuations, additional flash flooding, and landslides are possible.

Inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions and render some bridges or roadways impassable. Flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary port closures are also possible. Stagnant pools of water during and after flooding may increase the incidence of insect- and waterborne diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, and malaria. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.