Hurricane Erick Makes Landfall in Oaxaca as Early Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm before making landfall near Punta Maldonado, Oaxaca, Mexico, as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds around 125-129 mph. It is the first major hurricane on record to strike Mexico before July and has caused life-threatening hazards including heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides, especially in mountainous regions. Mexican authorities issued hurricane and tropical storm warnings, urging residents in vulnerable areas to seek shelter, as the storm is expected to weaken quickly while moving northwest and dissipating by early Friday. Although cities like Acapulco, still recovering from Hurricane Otis in 2023, largely avoided the worst impacts, the region remains on high alert due to the storm’s destructive potential. Erick represents the second hurricane and fifth named storm of the busy 2025 Eastern Pacific season, which is seeing unusually early and intense activity, possibly linked to climate change and rapid storm intensification. Officials continue monitoring the situation closely as Erick brings ongoing risks from wind and heavy rain over southern and southwestern Mexico.