Historic Hurricane Erick Devastates Oaxaca — First Major Hurricane to Hit Mexico This Early in the Season
Issued by: Senior Meteorologist, June 20, 2025
Overview:
On June 19, 2025, Hurricane Erick made a historic landfall on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, as a Category 3 hurricane — the earliest major hurricane ever recorded to strike the country’s Pacific coastline. With sustained winds of 201 km/h (125 mph) and waves reaching 10 meters (33 feet), Erick brought catastrophic impacts across Oaxaca and Guerrero, resulting in at least two fatalities, widespread power outages, and structural devastation.
Impact Summary:
- Over 276,000 customers lost electricity across Oaxaca and Guerrero; only half had service restored within 24 hours.
- Two confirmed deaths: a man electrocuted in southern Oaxaca and a one-year-old child swept away by floodwaters in Guerrero.
- Communities like Puerto Escondido, Pinotepa Nacional, and Lagunas de Chacahua saw homes destroyed, roads blocked by landslides, and hospitals damaged.
- Winds and floodwaters isolated numerous municipalities, prompting emergency evacuations and federal disaster response.
Record-Breaking Characteristics:
- Erick is the earliest fifth named storm in Eastern Pacific history — outpacing Hurricane Enrique (2021).
- It reached hurricane strength nearly one month ahead of the historical average for the season’s second hurricane (typically July 15).
- Meteorologists identified Erick as one of the fastest-intensifying storms on record in the region — jumping 129 km/h (80 mph) in just 24 hours.
🌊 Hurricane Patterns in Mexico: A Shifting Trend
In recent years, Mexico’s Pacific coast has seen a trend toward earlier and more intense tropical systems, likely influenced by ocean warming and climate variability. Historic storms like Agatha (2022), Otis (2023), and now Erick (2025) reflect a growing pattern of rapid intensification near landfall.
Such storms not only devastate coastal communities but increasingly impact inland states due to prolonged rainfall and landslides. Mexican authorities now activate hurricane readiness protocols much earlier in the season, sometimes as early as May.
📅 Outlook: Mexico & Eastern Pacific – July 2025 Forecast
- Tropical Activity: Expect 1–2 more named storms in July, with elevated risk of one storm reaching hurricane strength, particularly between July 5–20. Warm sea surface temperatures and a developing El Niño will continue to favor early storm formation.
- Rainfall: Above-average precipitation likely across southern and southeastern Mexico, increasing flood and landslide risk in states such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz.
- Temperatures: Daytime highs will remain elevated, especially in inland valleys, with above-normal heat and humidity expected to persist.
- Risk Zones: Pacific coastal states, especially Guerrero and Oaxaca, should remain in alert mode through mid-July.
Gleb Perov is the founder and chief meteorologist of POGODNIK, a leading weather forecasting service in Eastern Europe. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in meteorology and climate analysis, he has worked private weather services.
Gleb is the author of numerous scientific and analytical publications on climate, magnetic storms, and atmospheric processes. He regularly collaborates with major international agencies such as NOAA, ECMWF.
