Tropical Storm Erick to rapidly intensify into hurricane, could bring heavy rain as far north as Texas

Tropical Storm Erick is strengthening in the Eastern Pacific Ocean some 265 miles southeast of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). 

The NHC has recorded maximum sustained winds of 50 mph within Erick, which formed early Tuesday morning.

Erick is the fifth named storm of this year’s Eastern Pacific hurricane season, and it could be the first named storm in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins to make landfall.

Erick forecast to rapidly intensify before landfall

The NHC said Tuesday that Erick is expected to rapidly intensify before making landfall.

Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph within 24 hours. 

Erick could reach major hurricane strength if it intensifies faster than current forecasts show.

A major hurricane is defined as a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

It is expected to approach the coast of southern Mexico by Wednesday night and move inland or be near the coast on Thursday, according to the NHC.

Tropical Storm Erick is gaining strength in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where the storm could intensify into a hurricane by Wednesday morning. REUTERS

Mexico’s government has issued a Hurricane Warning from Puerto Angel to Punta Maldonado.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect from Punta Madonado to Acapulco and east of Puerto Angel to Bahias de Huatulco.

A Tropical Storm Watch covers the area east of Puerto Angel to Salina Cruz.

The Hurricane Hunters are set to fly three missions into Erick by Thursday. 

The storm is expected to make landfall in Mexico as winds are already being recorded at over 50 mph. FOX Weather

Erick could be first named storm of 2025 to make landfall in either Eastern Pacific or Atlantic 

Forecasters said Erick will bring heavy rain to Central America and southeastern Mexico this week, and it will likely become the first storm in either the Eastern Pacific or the Atlantic to make landfall this year.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, landfall could happen in Mexico.

The NHC’s forecast of 8-16 inches of rain will fall close to the coast.

Localized pockets of up to 20 inches of rain are possible in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo took to X to warn residents to stay tuned to latest conditions and alerts ahead of the storm making landfall in Mexico. 

The NHC also warned that storm surge could produce coastal flooding, and life-threatening swells and rip currents from Erick may arrive by Wednesday.

Erick’s impacts could be felt as far north as Texas 

Some computer forecast models suggest that the deep tropical moisture from Erick could drift north and reach parts of extreme South Texas later in the week.