Hurricane Erick makes landfall as strong Category 3 in Mexico
Hurricane Erick made landfall as a strong Category 3 storm in extreme western Oaxaca, Mexico on Thursday morning.
PUNTA MALDONADO, Mexico – Hurricane Erick made landfall along the southwestern coast of Mexico early Thursday morning, lashing communities with destructive wind and torrential rain, raising fears of life-threatening flooding and mudslides as terrified residents hunkered down in homes and shelters for safety.
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Residents try to drain water out of their houses following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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View of a lifeguard station toppled following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mexican Navy members help with cleansing tasks following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Locals look at damages following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mexican Navy members help with cleansing tasks following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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A man checks damages following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Locals walk amid debris following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Residents walk past damages caused by Hurricane Erick in Bahia Principal, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca on June 19, 2025. Erick, a category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, made landfall in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (west) on the Pacific coast, the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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This frame grab from AFPTV video footage shows the beach of the popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido as Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico's Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm in Oaxaca state, Mexico on June 18, 2025. Hurricane Erick barreled down on Mexico's Pacific coast Wednesday having strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods. (Photo by Carlo ECHEGOYEN / AFPTV / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
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This frame grab from AFPTV video footage shows the popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido as Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico's Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm in Oaxaca state, Mexico on June 18, 2025. Hurricane Erick barreled down on Mexico's Pacific coast Wednesday having strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods. (Photo by Carlo ECHEGOYEN / AFPTV / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
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This frame grab from AFPTV video footage shows the popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido as Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico's Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm in Oaxaca state, Mexico on June 18, 2025. Hurricane Erick barreled down on Mexico's Pacific coast Wednesday having strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods. (Photo by Carlo ECHEGOYEN / AFPTV / AFP) (Photo by CARLO ECHEGOYEN/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
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People arrive at a school set up as a temporary shelter before Hurricane Erick hits Acapulco in Guerrero State, Mexico, on June 18, 2025. Hurricane Erick has strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm as it barrels down on Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. Now a major hurricane, Erick is expected to bring "potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico" late Wednesday and Thursday, it said. (Photo by Francisco Robles / AFP) (Photo by FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty Images)
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Businesses board up their properties before Hurricane Erick hits Acapulco in Guerrero State, Mexico, on June 18, 2025. Hurricane Erick has strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm as it barrels down on Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. Now a major hurricane, Erick is expected to bring "potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico" late Wednesday and Thursday, it said. (Photo by Francisco Robles / AFP) (Photo by FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty Images)
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The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Erick made landfall in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca near Santiago Pinotepa Nacional around 7:30 a.m. ET as a powerful Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph.
Those winds have since dropped to 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
This graphic shows the information regarding Hurricane Erick's landfall in Mexico on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (FOX Weather)
The monster storm started to rapidly intensify Wednesday and eventually reached Category 4 strength with winds of 145 mph as it scraped the coast before making its official landfall Thursday morning.
The Mexican government issued Hurricane Warnings from Acapulco to Puerto Escondido, and Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana.
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Watch: Hurricane Erick produces powerful winds, torrential rain in Mexico
A video shared from Mexico shows torrential rain falling and destructive winds blowing through the trees as Hurricane Erick approached on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Now that the hurricane has made landfall, the NHC said it will continue to move inland over Mexico’s mountainous terrain and will continue to rapidly weaken before dissipating Thursday night or early Friday morning.
However, local officials and the NHC warned residents to not let their guard down as torrential rain and wind are expected to continue, and that will likely lead to flash flooding and landslides.
Dangerous conditions are also likely to persist along the coast where a potentially life-threatening storm surge combined with large, destructive waves pound the region.
In addition, deadly rip currents are also likely and people have been warned to stay out of the ocean and off beaches.
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Watch: Lightning illuminates sky above Mexico as Hurricane Erick approaches coast
Hurricane Erick made landfall in southwestern Mexico on Thursday morning, and a video shows conditions in Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, as the storm approached.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo took to social media Wednesday night where she announced that all activities had been suspended across the region and urged residents to stay home or move into shelters if living in low-lying areas.
Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado Pineda echoed that and said residents needed to remain on alert due to anticipated damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
WATCH: Hurricane Erick’s winds lash Puerto Escondido, Mexico
A video shared from Puerto Escondido, Mexico, shows trees swaying in the wind as Hurricane Erick approached on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Pineda said 21 shelters had been opened for residents, and as of Thursday morning nearly 1,300 people had taken advantage of the protection and care there.
She continued to urge people to follow the recommendations of officials and to stay alert.
Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission said it had deployed specialized technical personnel to address power outages across the region and would begin to make repairs when conditions were safe enough to do so.
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Hurricane Erick revives horrific memories of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco
Video shows how guests survived Hurricane Otis’ wrath at an Acapulco resort
FILE VIDEO - Hurricane Otis became the strongest landfalling cyclone along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. The hurricane had sustained winds around 165 mph, making it Category 5 cyclone when it impacted areas around Acapulco.
Being a major hurricane, Erick will set the record for being the strongest June cyclone to make landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast, triggering some memories of Hurricane Otis in 2023.
Otis was the strongest hurricane to ever impact Acapulco, with sustained winds of 165 mph, but due to the cyclone's unpredictable nature, many were caught off guard by its fury.
Mexican authorities reported more than 50 deaths and damage estimates that eclipsed $10 billion from the late-season disaster.