Tropical Storm Erick is expected to rapidly intensify before it arrives in Mexico later this week, with some meteorologists anticipating the storm to reach major hurricane strength before landfall. Animated weather footage from windy.

Any hurricane or tropical storm threatening Houston or the Texas coastline draws power from the heat energy stored in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Just two weeks into the Atlantic hurricane season,

A flurry of tropical cyclone activity over the past two weeks in the eastern Pacific Ocean just off the west coast of Mexico has produced three named storms so far - with more storms expected.

Tropical Storm Erick formed Tuesday in the Eastern Pacific and is forecast to intensify before approaching southern Mexico later this week. A hurricane watch is in effect for portions of Mexico, with flooding risks,

Since the start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, hardly any signs of tropical cyclone development have been spotted in the Atlantic Basin.