Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico as Category 3 storm with 125-mph winds

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6 hours ago

Hurricane Erick has made landfall along the western coast of Mexico east of Acapulco as a Category 3 storm.
Maximum sustained winds were 125 mph, dropping from 140 mph only hours earlier.
In the Atlantic basin, conditions remain quiet. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves, including one in the eastern Caribbean.
The first named storm in the Atlantic basin will be Andrea.
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Some showers are possible across most of Florida on the Juneteenth holiday. Temperatures are expected to remain hot, with the heat index reaching as high as 105 in some locations.
Here's the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m. June 19.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves in the Atlantic basin.
Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave axis in the eastern Atlantic is located along 29W from 04N to 15N. It's moving west at 6 to 11 mph.
Tropical wave 2: A tropical wave in the central Atlantic has an axis along 46W from 04N to 15W. It's moving west at 6 to 11 mph.
Tropical wave 3: A tropical wave over the eastern Caribbean has been relocated based on observations and is now along 63W south of 17N into Venezuela.
"The average first named storm in the Atlantic is June 20, but development over the central and eastern basin looks unfavorable through June at this time," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert.
Major hurricane Erick made landfall as a Category 3 storm in extreme western Oaxaca, Mexico, about 7:40 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A major hurricane is a Category 3 or higher storm, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.
Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph, with higher gusts. Erick is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate tonight or early June 20.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.
Erick rapidly intensified into a major hurricane over the last 24 hours. Just hours before landfall, Erick was a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.
Erick will produce rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches, with maximum totals of 16 inches, across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero.
The National Hurricane Center warned wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds. In some elevated locations, wind speeds could be even greater.
Swells generated by Erick will continue affecting the coast of southern Mexico throughout the day. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.
"There is some dust moving through the Caribbean right now but most of it will stay south and west of Florida. Some will move into Texas and Louisiana late this week," DaSilva said.
The next plume of dust that could impact South Florida may arrive around June 27 and could last a few days, DaSilva said via email.
"The dust set to arrive in Florida in around 10 days could be comparable to the dust that went through Florida recently, however since it is still 10 days away and still over Africa, the dust concentration is still subject to change as it moves across the Atlantic."
"Strong wind shear and an abundance of Saharan dust is helping to protect Florida," DaSilva said.
There are "no concerns in the Atlantic for at least the next seven days. There is too much dry air and the wind shear is too high," DaSilva said. "If anything develops in June it would likely be in the Bay of Campeche or far western Caribbean, where the shear is a little lower."
"The average first named storm in the Atlantic is June 20 and the average first hurricane is Aug. 11. It is not really that unusual for the start of the season to be quiet. Water temperatures and ocean heat content remain very high in the Gulf.
"I think once we get more into the heart of the season, things could get very active. Expect a second-half loaded season.
Dry air, including associated Saharan dust, along with wind shear, both prevent tropical systems from developing or strengthening, essentially cutting off the fuel storms need.
Pensacola, western Panhandle: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tallahassee, central Panhandle:A few showers are ongoing this morning with more expected to develop this afternoon. Expect a line of storms to move in from the north later this afternoon/evening. High near 93. Heat index values as high as 101.
Jacksonville, North/Northeast Florida: Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon as the sea breezes move inland. Isolated strong thunderstorm risk focuses between Highway 301 and I-95 from 4-9 p.m. Stronger storms will produce frequent lightning, torrential downpours, and wind gusts up to 45-55 mph. High near 93. Heat index values as high as 103.
Daytona Beach to Stuart, East/Central Florida: Hot and humid once again, with temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s along the coast, and mid-90s across the interior. Peak heat indices between 100 and 105. Scattered rain and storms today, with the greatest potential west of I-95 this afternoon/evening.
West Palm Beach to Naples, South/Southwest Florida: West Palm Beach: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 p.m., then a slight chance of thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 84. Naples: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 102.
Fort Myers to Sarasota, West/Southwest Florida: Typical summer conditions with highs in the lower to mid 90s along with a chance of afternoon and evening showers and storms. High near 92, with heat index as high as 102 in Fort Myers. High near 87, with heat index as high as 101 in Sarasota.
Among the changes the National Hurricane Center announced for the 2025 hurricane season was the addition of a rip current risk map.
➤ National Hurricane Center lays out changes coming for 2025 season. See what to expect
This new addition provided by the Hurricane Center will be provided for the current day, the next day, and as a composite showing the highest risk over both days for areas along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the coast of southern California.
XXXXXThe map for June 18, shows high risks for rip currents along a portion of Florida's Panhandle, as well as along the Atlantic coast in Southeast Florida.
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The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center. Hurricane season starts June 1 in the Atlantic basin.
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Tropical cyclone is the generic term used by the National Weather Service, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center for any tropical system, even if it's in the tropical Atlantic basin.
To be more precise, a tropical cyclone is a "rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation," NOAA sadi.
Once maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, what it is called is determined by where it originated:
: for storms in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific.
: for storms in the Northwest Pacific.
: for storms in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
We will update our tropical weather coverage daily.
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Erick hits Mexico as Category 3 storm. Atlantic quiet