Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Erick is bearing down on Mexico's southern Pacific coast, where it is expected to make landfall early Thursday. With sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a central pressure of 939 mb as of early Thursday morning, Erick has reached major Category 4 status, becoming the first hurricane of the 2025 season to strike Mexico. The storm marks a rare and unusually intense June landfall for the region.
Initially recorded with winds of 85 mph on Wednesday morning, Erick rapidly intensified beyond the 35 mph threshold for rapid strengthening within 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Erick to a major hurricane by Wednesday night, noting a well-formed eye and intense surrounding thunderstorms. By 2 a.m. EDT Thursday, Erick was located just 90 kilometers from Puerto Ángel, where a hurricane warning is in effect, extending westward toward Acapulco.
Hurricane Erick's projected path brings it ashore east of Acapulco at a sharp angle, likely along the sparsely populated coast of western Oaxaca. This region is under threat of 8 to 16 inches (20 to 41 cm) of rain, with localized totals exceeding 20 inches (51 cm), raising the risk of flash floods and landslides. Waves may reach up to six meters (20 feet), prompting serious coastal safety concerns. Emergency services have mobilized over 18,000 first responders and opened more than 500 temporary shelters across Oaxaca and Guerrero. Evacuation plans are underway in tourist areas, including Acapulco, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in October 2023. The city's international airport suspended all flights scheduled for Thursday.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged residents to stay indoors or relocate to shelters if living in high-risk flood zones. The country's national water commission, Conagua, has issued warnings for severe rainfall, flooding, and dangerous surf conditions.
The hurricane's rapid development is supported by favorable conditions, including sea surface temperatures near 30°C and an unusually moist atmosphere with mid-level relative humidity between 80–85%. Wind shear remains low at 5–10 knots, further fueling intensification. Although the oceanic heat content is limited along Erick's track, these atmospheric and oceanic conditions have allowed the storm to become one of the strongest June hurricanes on Mexico's Pacific coast in recent history.
Erick is the fifth named storm of the Eastern Pacific season, arriving more than a month ahead of average, reflecting an active and accelerated start to the 2025 hurricane season.
Source 1: Yale Climate Connections
Source 2: Reuters