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Hurricane Erick
Category 4 Pacific hurricane in 2025 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hurricane Erick was a powerful tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall to parts of southern and southwestern Mexico in June 2025. The fifth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2025 Pacific hurricane season, Erick was the earliest fifth named storm on record in the Eastern Pacific basin and the earliest major hurricane to make landfall on either coast of Mexico (Pacific or Atlantic).
Erick originated from a weather disturbance associated with a tropical wave located south of Mexico on June 10. The system developed into a tropical storm on June 17. Then, as it turned northwestward, it entered a phase of rapid intensification. By early June 18, Erick had intensified into a hurricane and continued strengthening, reaching its peak as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 939 mb (27.73 inHg). Erick made landfall in Oaxaca on the morning of June 19 with Category 3 sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). Once inland, the hurricane rapidly weakened into a tropical storm. The complete collapse of convection on June 20 caused it to degenerate into a post-tropical cyclone, which dissipated the following day over the interior regions of Jalisco and Nayarit.
In anticipation of Erick, the government of Mexico issued hurricane warnings for parts of the coastal areas of Oaxaca and Guerrero, along with hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings. When the storm made landfall, it knocked out electricity and cellphone coverage for at least 30,000 people in Puerto Escondido. Erick brought heavy rain across Central America and Mexico, causing flash floods and mudslides that left at least 24 dead, 28 injured, and 1 missing. The total damage was estimated at US$250 million.[1]
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Meteorological history
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Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Storm type
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn June 10, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that an area of low pressure was expected to form several hundred miles off the coast of Central America over the next weekend.[2] A broad low-pressure area developed on the same day, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, with scattered activity and only gradual development anticipated.[3][4] At 21:00 UTC on June 16, the NHC designated it as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five-E due to its imminent threat to southern Mexico and began issuing advisories.[5] At this time, the disturbance was situated roughly 610 mi (980 km) southeast of Punta Maldonado, Guerrero.[6] The system soon acquired a well-defined circulation and developed into a tropical depression.[7]
Amid an environment conducive to strengthening, the system intensified into a tropical storm at 03:00 UTC on June 17 and was assigned the name Erick.[8] Concurrently, a weakening mid-level ridge allowed a mid-to upper-level trough to progress eastward across the central United States, causing Erick to move northwestward. The storm became increasingly organized, with deep convection expanding and cloud tops cooling to around −120 °F (−85 °C) near the developing inner-core structure.[9] Erick rapidly intensified into a hurricane around 12:00 UTC on June 18, about 160 mi (255 km) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca.[10][11] The hurricane moved into a region of more favorable conditions, with higher sea surface temperatures and weaker vertical wind shear.[12]
Rapid intensification continued, and based on data collected by an Air Force Reserve Unit Hurricane Hunter,[10] the NHC upgraded Erick to Category 2 strength a few hours later, as satellite imagery showed a more circular eye surrounded by cold cloud tops.[13] Following another Hurricane Hunter mission, the storm was upgraded to a major hurricane at 00:00 UTC on June 19.[14] After an earlier eyewall replacement cycle, satellite imagery showed deep convection wrapping around the eye.[15] As Erick approached the Mexican coast, it reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 939 mb (27.73 inHg) at 05:30 UTC that day.[16] Then, shortly before 12:00 UTC, Erick made landfall at Pinotepa Nacional in western Oaxaca, about 10 mi (16 km) east of Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, with sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h).[17][18] Once onshore, the hurricane rapidly weakened as its inner core began to collapse.[19] Moving northwestward over rugged terrain, the inner core continued to deteriorate, and the system's overall convective pattern became quite ragged. Consequently, Erick weakened to tropical storm strength by 21:00 UTC.[20] Later that same day, the storm weakened to a tropical depression, and with no organized convection and a poorly defined circulation, it degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone by 03:00 UTC on June 20, marking the cessation of it being a tropical cyclone.[21][22] The following day, Erick's remnants moved northwestward and eventually dissipated across the interior regions of Jalisco and Nayarit.[23][24]
Records
Erick is the earliest fifth named storm in the Eastern Pacific basin on record, surpassing the June 25 mark set by Hurricane Enrique in 2021.[25] Erick also became a hurricane on June 18, nearly one month earlier than the average formation date of the season's second hurricane – July 15.[10] Additionally, the system became the earliest major hurricane on record to make landfall on either coast of Mexico (Pacific or Atlantic); the previous Pacific coast record was set by Hurricane Kiko on August 26, 1989.[19][26] Meteorologists Jeff Masters and Bob Henson at Yale University described Erick as one of the fastest-intensifying hurricanes on record. In a 24-hour period, the hurricane's maximum sustained winds increased by 80 mph (130 km/h).[27]
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Preparations and impact
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On June 17, the government of Mexico issued hurricane warnings for parts of the coastal areas of Oaxaca and Guerrero, along with hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings.[28] Across the region, 2,000 shelters were opened for Erick.[29] Over 18,000 first responders were deployed across Guerrero and Oaxaca.[30]
As the storm rapidly intensified, residents were urged to stock up on food, water, and gasoline.[31] In Guerrero, 582 shelters were opened on the same day.[32] Classes for all grades in the state were cancelled on June 18 and 19.[33] Beaches in Acapulco were closed, and Acapulco's port administration ordered that no one remain in their boats during the storm.[34] Police patrolled the beaches to warn of Erick.[35] All flights out of Acapulco International Airport were cancelled for June 19.[30] Some classes in the lowlands of Chiapas were suspended for Erick.[36] Thirty-five municipalities of Oaxaca were ordered to open shelters.[37] Classes were closed in forty-three municipalities.[37] Flights were cancelled to Bahías de Huatulco International Airport.[37] The Mexican Navy mobilized 6,418 personnel to manage evacuations in Oaxaca.[38] The Navy also activated a preventive plan for Colima, Tabasco, and Campeche.[39]
Waves along Mexico's Pacific coast were 10 metres (33 ft) high.[40] A total of 26,000 homes were damaged in Guerrero and Oaxaca.[41] In Oaxaca, Erick dropped heavy rainfall that produced mudslides that damaged several homes and schools, closed highways, and injured one person. Around 200 residents were evacuated due to flooding in Pinotepa Nacional. Street flooding stalled vehicles in Salina Cruz,[42][43] and at least 30,000 people in Puerto Escondido were left without electricity or cellphone coverage when Erick made landfall.[44] In total, 277,000 customers lost power.[45] Losses in Oaxaca reached Mex$2 billion (US$105 million), with losses from papaya crops reaching Mex$210 million (US$11.6 million) alone. The government allocated Mex$18 billion (US$946 million) to address the damage caused by the storm.[46][47] In Guerrero, approximately 50 houses were damaged in Punta Maldonado.[48] High winds damaged homes and businesses in communities near Laguna de Corralero.[49] In Ometepec, roofs were detached from homes and a building toppled onto a vehicle. Several communities in the municipality of Ometepec were isolated by landslides.[50]
In Acapulco, trees and powerlines were downed. Telephone service and all electricity was knocked out for most residents. Erick's rainfall caused flooding and damage along highways and dirt roads.[51] A tunnel along the Mitla-Tehuantepec highway collapsed due to heavy rains.[52] The Las Nutrias and Los Perros Rivers overflowed, affecting thousands of houses in Juchitán de Zaragoza.[53] A child drowned in San Marcos, Guerrero, while a man was electrocuted in San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca, during debris removal following Erick's landfall.[54][55] Over 90 dogs lost during Erick in Puerto Escondido were brought into a shelter.[56] Total losses in Guerrero reached Mex1.905 billion (US$102 million), with losses in Acapulco reaching Mex$1.878 billion (US$101 million) while losses in the Costa Chica region totaled to Mex$27 million (US$1.45 million).[57][58] As Erick approached the coast, 250 mm (9.84 in) of rain fell in both states.[59] Remnant moisture from Erick generated heavy rains over several Mexican states. In Michoacán and Veracruz, many roadways were flooded, damaging numerous vehicles. In Tamaulipas, crocodiles were sighted due to the rains. Commercial losses in the state are estimated at Mex$60 million (US$3.22 million). In San Luis Potosí, 87 homes were flooded. A man fell into the Tampaón River while another man was swept into a storm drain while riding a horse. Both of their bodies were later found.[60][61][62][63]
Heavy rains caused flooding, landslides and rockfalls across Honduras, killing two people in Santa Bárbara.[64][65] Eight departments were affected by flooding, which left several people missing.[66] A total of 5,500 people and 1,800 families were affected. 100 homes were damaged, with 26 of them being destroyed.[67] The Ulúa River overflowed, forcing the evacuation of at least 70 families in Yoro.[68] Losses are greater than one million lempiras (US$38,000).[69] As Erick approached Guatemala, it exacerbated heavy rainfall in the country, which resulted in 18 deaths, one missing and 27 injuries, with 5,053 people affected and 1,017 others displaced.[70] In El Salvador, as much as 70% of crops were damaged in El Paisnal due to the storm.[71]
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See also
- Hurricane Bridget (1971) – a Category 2 hurricane that struck Acapulco
- Hurricane Pauline (1997) – a Category 4 hurricane that heavily impacted Acapulco and resulted in over 300 deaths
- Hurricane Carlotta (2012) – a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
- Hurricane Agatha (2022) – a Category 2 hurricane that made landfall near Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca
- Hurricane Otis (2023) – a Category 5 hurricane that explosively intensified before making landfall near Acapulco
- Hurricane John (2024) – a Category 3 hurricane that rapidly intensified before making landfall twice in Guerrero
References
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