Hurricane Erick reaches category 2 and continues to strengthen prior to impact in southwestern Mexico

Published at: 18/06/2025 05:17 PM

Hurricane Erick continues to intensify rapidly off the coast of southern Mexico and reached category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale this Wednesday, with sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195, Mexico's National Weather Service (SMN) reported today.

The phenomenon is located 165 kilometers south of Puerto Ángel, Mexican state of Oaxaca, and 345 kilometers southeast of Punta Maldonado, in the state of Guerrero. It moves to the northwest at 15 kilometers per hour, under favorable ocean conditions for its strengthening, authorities said. According to the entity's forecasts, Erick could impact Thursday morning on the border between Oaxaca and Guerrero as a category 3 hurricane (out of a maximum of 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale), considered “dangerous” due to its intensity and destructive potential.

The phenomenon also generates winds of 120 to 140 kilometers per hour, with gusts that reach 170 on the coasts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, while in Chiapas, winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour are expected. The waves in the region could exceed six meters in height, while a storm tide of between one and two meters is expected off the coast of Oaxaca.

Mexican authorities warned of the risk of river overflows, landslides and floods in low-lying areas, and urged the population to follow SMN warnings and Civil Protection recommendations.

Mazo News Team