Hurricane Erick slams Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Cat 3 storm
Hurricane Erick, which rapidly intensified overnight, made landfall Thursday morning on Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Erick came ashore in Mexico's western state of Oaxaca packing sustained winds of 125 mph and heavy rain, according to the NHC.
The hurricane was located on Thursday morning about 20 miles east of Punta Maldonado and was moving northwest at about 9 mph, according to the NHC.
Before making landfall, the Erick had spooled up to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, but was downgraded to a Category 3 before making landfall, the NHC center reported.
Erick is the first Pacific Category 3 hurricane on record to make landfall over Mexico in June.
A hurricane warning remained in effect Thursday from Acapulco to Puerto Angel.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said the hurricane made landfall between 5 a.m. and a.m. local time in Pinotepa Nacional in the state of Oaxaca. She said prior to making landfall, Erick's heavy rain and strong wind caused damage mainly to the coast of Oaxaca and in the Costa Chica of Guerrero, an area along the south coast of the state of Guerrero.
Laura Velázquez, coordinator of the Mexico's National Disaster Agency, said there are 14 municipalities affected by rain and winds.
"We have a hospital where water has entered in Huatulco, a river overflow in Ciudad Ixtepec, nine road landslides, stranded vehicles, fallen trees and poles," Velázquez said.
There have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
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The major hurricane appeared to hit he coastline between the resort towns of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido in an area near the border of Oaxaca and Guerrero states, according to the NHC.
As it sweeps across the state of Oaxaca, Erick is expected to slam parts of the region with strong winds and heavy rain for most of Thursday before weakening over land by Friday.
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Erick will produce heavy rainfall up to 6 to 8 inches across southeastern Guerrero and west-coastal Oaxaca through Friday and likely trigger life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides -- especially in areas of steep terrain.
Erick formed as a tropical storm early Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean near southern Mexico and rapidly intensified, reaching hurricane strength by Wednesday, according to the NHC.
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Erick makes landfall in southern Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane
The storm threaded the needle between the resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, tearing into a sparsely populated stretch of coastline near the border of Oaxaca and Guerrero states. Agricultural fields blanket the low-lying coastal area between small fishing villages. Advertisement Locals walked amid debris following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on Thursday. CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images Erick is expected to rapidly weaken as it crashes into the coastal mountains of southern Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane center said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Storm moves south on approach At first light Thursday, Acapulco awoke under ominous dark clouds, but without a drop of rain and small waves lapping at its central beach. However, the storm was forecast to move northwest just inland up the coast through midday, bringing heavy rain to the resort and the mountains that tower dramatically above it. Still, it appeared Acapulco had dodged the worst at least in terms of Erick's strong winds. Advertisement Late Wednesday, Erick's projected path had crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state with Acapulco up the coast to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. A man checked damages following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Puerto Escondido. CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. Earlier in the day, fishermen in Puerto Escondido pulled their boats out of the water ahead of the storm's arrival. Some surfers continued to ride waves at the Zicatela beach, even with red flags up to warn people to stay out of the water. Acapulco still scarred by Otis Acapulco residents had braced for Erick's arrival with more preparation and trepidation because of the memory of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Otis two years earlier. The city of nearly 1 million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said via X that all movement in Acapulco and other beach communities was to be suspended at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Schools across the state were to remain closed for a second day Thursday. Advertisement Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his restaurant at the edge of an Acapulco beach when Otis slammed the resort with devastating winds. On Wednesday, he directed workers storing tables and chairs. 'Authorities' warnings fill us with fear and obviously make us remember everything we've already been through,' Ozuna Romero said in reference to Otis. Elsewhere, workers nailed sheets of plywood over shop windows and stacked sandbags outside doorways. Cars lined up to fill their tanks and shoppers made last-minute purchases before rushing home. Verónica Gómez struggled through the streets of Acapulco with a large jug of water. 'We're all afraid because we think the same thing could happen,' said the 40-year-old employee of a shipping company. 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Laura Velázquez, Mexico's national civil defense coordinator, said Erick was forecast to bring 'torrential' rains to Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The mountainous region along the coast is especially prone to mudslides with numerous rivers at risk of flooding. Advertisement Acapulco's port closed Tuesday evening. Salgado said 582 shelters were set to receive people who might evacuate their homes across Guerrero. Erick quickly doubled in strength Having doubled in strength in less than a day, Erick churned through an ideal environment for quick intensification. Last year, there were 34 incidents of rapid intensification — when a storm gains at least 35 mph in 24 hours — which is about twice as many as average and causes problems with forecasting, according to the hurricane center. Sánchez reported from Acapulco, Mexico.
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Erick makes landfall in southern Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane
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Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico
MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Erick, which has been classified as dangerous, has reached Mexico. The storm made landfall in the southwestern state of Oaxaca on Thursday with wind speeds reaching about 127 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing at least nine landslides on country roads, said the coordinator of Mexico's National Civil Protection Agency, Laura Velázquez. Erick also reportedly caused trees and power poles to topple. There were power outages and flooding, including in a hospital. According to preliminary official reports, there have been no fatalities so far in the affected states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. Shortly before making landfall, Erick weakened from the second-highest hurricane Category 4 to Category 3. The NHC had previously stated that it was an "extremely dangerous" storm. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged continued caution in her daily press conference. Although the storm is expected to weaken further over land, she said the danger, especially from heavy rain, is not over. Authorities warned of devastating wind damage and life-threatening flooding. A high danger level is in effect for the coastal section between the resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Ángel. Erick is the second hurricane of this year's Pacific season, following Barbara. The hurricane season begins in the Pacific on May 15 and in the Atlantic on June 1. It officially lasts in both regions until Nov. 30. In October 2023, Otis, a category 5 storm, killed at least 52 people in Acapulco and caused significant damage. According to experts, increasing global warming raises the likelihood of severe storms. _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
