Hurricane Erick 2025 is gaining strength rapidly and heading toward Mexico’s Pacific coast as a Category 4 storm. Learn everything about its path, potential impact, and the essential emergency kit that both Mexicans and Americans must prepare now.
What Is Hurricane Erick and Why Is It a Big Deal?
Hurricane Erick is the fifth named storm of the 2025 Eastern Pacific hurricane season—and it’s already rewriting the record books.
As of June 19, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Hurricane Erick has intensified to a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds exceeding 130 mph (209 km/h). It is rapidly approaching the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly endangering the regions of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Chiapas.
This storm is especially alarming because:
- It intensified from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in under 36 hours.
- It is forecasted to make direct landfall near Acapulco, a city still recovering from Hurricane Otis in 2023.
- The hurricane’s impact zone includes densely populated, mountainous, and coastal communities, making the risk of flooding, mudslides, and storm surge especially dangerous.
Hurricane Erick’s Current Location and Predicted Path
As of the latest advisory:
- Location: About 130 miles (205 kilometers) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca
- Movement: Northwest at 8 mph (13 km/h)
- Winds: Sustained winds around 130 mph, with higher gusts
Forecasted Impact Zone:
According to Mexico’s CONAGUA and the NHC, the following regions are most at risk:
- Oaxaca: Especially coastal towns like Puerto Ángel, Huatulco, and Salina Cruz
- Guerrero: Including the major city of Acapulco
- Chiapas: Inland flooding likely
- Colima and Jalisco: May experience strong winds and rainfall from the outer bands
Erick could make landfall late Thursday, with coastal regions bracing for devastating effects including:
- 20+ inches (50+ cm) of rain
- 6 to 12 feet of storm surge
- Flash flooding and landslides
- Widespread power outages and infrastructure damage
Government Warnings and Preparedness Measures
Mexican authorities have moved quickly in light of Hurricane Erick’s rapid intensification.
Actions Taken in Mexico:
- 582 emergency shelters activated in Guerrero
- Schools closed in Oaxaca and Guerrero
- Port of Acapulco shut down
- Military and rescue teams deployed to potential high-impact zones
- Evacuation orders in vulnerable coastal towns
What Leaders Are Saying:
- President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to “take government alerts seriously and act swiftly.”
- Governor Evelyn Salgado emphasized the importance of community shelters and staying off the roads during the storm.
- National Civil Protection Coordinator Laura Velázquez warned against waiting till the last minute, as conditions could worsen suddenly, especially in mountainous areas.
Dangerous Weather Phenomena Expected
Torrential Rainfall:
Rainfall estimates are as high as 20 inches (51 cm) in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with other states such as Chiapas, Michoacán, and Colima also expected to receive 8 to 12 inches.
In mountainous terrain, this kind of rainfall can easily trigger deadly mudslides. Communities near rivers or hillsides are at the highest risk.
High Winds:
With wind speeds crossing 130 mph, Erick could rip roofs off homes, knock down trees, and bring down power lines across southern Mexico.
Life-Threatening Storm Surge:
A storm surge of up to 12 feet may inundate low-lying coastal zones. Combined with crashing waves and flooding rivers, this could wipe out homes and businesses located near beaches or ports.
Emergency Essentials You Must Have Ready – For Mexico and the U.S.
Whether you’re living along Mexico’s coast or in southern Texas, hurricane preparedness can make the difference between life and death.
Hurricane Emergency Kit (72-Hour Essentials):
- Clean drinking water: Minimum 3 liters per person per day (for 3 days)
- Non-perishable food: Enough for every family member for 3 days
- Battery-powered flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit with essential prescription medications
- Portable phone charger (power bank) fully charged
- Important documents: ID, property papers, insurance policies in waterproof folders
- Cash: ATMs may be out of service
- Face masks & sanitizers (especially if you’re in public shelters)
- Baby supplies and pet food, if applicable
- Portable radio to monitor updates from NHC or local authorities
Pro tip: If you’re near a beach or floodplain, park your vehicle on elevated terrain and secure your windows with plywood or hurricane shutters.
Will Hurricane Erick Affect the United States?
While the storm’s center is unlikely to make landfall in the U.S., its outer bands and residual moisture could impact parts of southern Texas and the Gulf Coast later this week.
Potential U.S. Impact:
- Heavy rainfall across southern Texas and Louisiana
- Localized flooding in flood-prone areas
- Dangerous rip currents and high surf across Gulf Coast beaches
- Disruption to air travel from Mexico to the U.S.
Travel advisory: U.S. citizens planning to visit Cancun, Puerto Escondido, or Acapulco this week should check for airline cancellations and resort closures.
What Makes Hurricane Erick So Unique?
Hurricane Erick is already making headlines for being the earliest “E”-named hurricane in Eastern Pacific history. And if it continues intensifying, it may become Mexico’s strongest June hurricane ever recorded.
Reasons Behind the Rapid Strengthening:
- Above-average sea surface temperatures across the eastern Pacific
- El Niño conditions, which tend to fuel stronger, faster-forming storms
- Low wind shear, allowing the storm to organize and strengthen without interruption
According to meteorologists, Erick is a textbook case of rapid intensification, something that’s becoming increasingly common in a warming climate.
UPDATE: #HurricaneErick has made a historic landfall in #Mexico likely with winds of around 100-100kts, becoming the first ever Major #Hurricane to strike the country in the month of June! Fortunately the storm should rapidly weaken inland#wx #wxtwitter #Erick pic.twitter.com/wdliGEwZVW
— Hurricane Chaser Chase (@hurricane_chase) June 19, 2025
How Does Erick Compare to Hurricane Otis (2023)?
Many residents of southern Mexico are drawing painful comparisons between Hurricane Erick and Hurricane Otis, which devastated Acapulco in October 2023. Otis shocked meteorologists when it surged from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours, catching many off guard.
While Erick has not reached Otis’ Category 5 status, it is on the same path, with:
- Similar landfall region
- Comparable wind speeds and rainfall
- Affected communities still in recovery mode
This makes preparedness even more critical, especially for vulnerable people still rebuilding from past storms.
What Should You Do Now? Final Checklist Before Hurricane Erick Hits
Whether you’re in Mexico’s coastal zones or a U.S. city along the Gulf, the time to prepare is right now.
Final Hurricane Erick Preparedness Checklist:
✅ Secure your home — board windows, clear gutters, trim loose tree branches
✅ Pack your emergency kit with water, food, medicine, power banks
✅ Keep gas tanks full and vehicles on higher ground
✅ Identify the nearest emergency shelter
✅ Stay connected to NHC and Mexico’s Civil Protection agency
✅ Don’t wait for the storm to arrive — evacuate early if instructed
Act Now Before Hurricane Erick Makes Landfall
Hurricane Erick 2025 is not just a powerful storm—it’s a serious threat to life, property, and infrastructure across southern Mexico and potentially parts of the southern U.S.
This fast-growing Category 4 hurricane could become one of the most destructive June storms on record. From flooding rains and violent winds to life-threatening mudslides and storm surges, the dangers are real and imminent.
👉 Whether you’re in Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, or even Texas, now is the time to:
- Prepare your emergency kit
- Listen to authorities
- Evacuate when told
Don’t gamble with nature. Lives were lost during Otis because of late preparation. Learn from the past—be safe, stay informed, and be ready.
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