Erick — 2025

A slow-moving tropical wave that moved off Central America developed into Tropical Depression Five at 0000 UTC 17 June 2025 about west of Costa Rica. It became Tropical Storm Erick by 1200 UTC 17 June and moved generally west-northwestward. Erick underwent rapid strengthening beginning about 0000 UTC 18 June, became a hurricane by 0600 UTC 18 June, reached major hurricane strength late on 18 June, and peaked on 19 June before weakening as it moved inland and dissipated by 20 June. Erick made landfall near 1130 UTC 19 June in the municipality of Santiago Domingo Armenta in far western Oaxaca, Mexico. At landfall it was estimated to have maximum sustained winds of 110 kt (approximately 125 mph) and a central pressure near 954 mb, corresponding to a Category 3 hurricane at the coast. After landfall the cyclone rapidly weakened over Mexico’s high terrain and became a tropical depression by 0000 UTC 20 June. The storm’s peak intensity was estimated at 120 kt (about 138 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 944 mb on 19 June, making Erick a Category 4 at its strongest before weakening slightly prior to landfall. Aircraft reconnaissance, satellite analyses, and objective intensity estimates were used to determine these values; peak aircraft flight-level winds sampled were 102 kt while satellite-based estimates supported the 120 kt peak. Measured storm surge near Erick’s landfall was modest at tide gauges distant from the impact point: Puerto Ángel recorded a peak surge of 0.32 m (1.05 ft), Huatulco 0.20 m (0.66 ft), and Salina Cruz 0.22 m (0.72 ft). Heavy rain produced the most significant coastal impacts: Presidente Benito Juárez, Oaxaca recorded the highest storm total rainfall at 14.13 inches (359 mm), and El Marques, Oaxaca reported 14.05 inches (357 mm). Other sites such as Salina Cruz and Puerto Ángel recorded multi-inch totals that contributed to flooding and landslides. Erick caused at least two reported fatalities in Mexico: one direct death (a one‑year‑old boy who drowned in a swollen river in Guerrero) and one indirect death (a man electrocuted during post‑storm debris removal in Oaxaca). Widespread damage occurred mainly in Oaxaca and Guerrero, affecting at least 22 municipalities, damaging or destroying more than 42,000 homes, 468 schools, thousands of kilometers of roads, multiple bridges and a tunnel, and leaving about 276,885 customers without power. Agricultural losses were large (for example, estimated $119 million in Oaxaca and $112 million in Acapulco), and the Mexican government allocated about $1.07 billion for recovery and reconstruction. Notable aspects include Erick’s rapid intensification from a tropical storm to Category 4 in less than two days and an eyewall replacement cycle observed on microwave imagery prior to landfall. Forecasts of where Erick would form and its track were generally accurate, with official track errors below recent means; however, intensity forecasts were challenged by the storm’s rapid strengthening and short life span, producing larger intensity forecast errors than the recent average.