Tropical Storm Erick formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean early Tuesday morning some 450 miles southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Erick is the fifth named storm of this year’s Eastern Pacific hurricane season, and could be the first named storm in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins to make landfall.

A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph. 

The NHC has recorded maximum sustained winds of 40 mph within Erick.

Erick has a high likelihood of becoming a hurricane on Wednesday.

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Rapid intensification possible for landfall

The NHC said Tuesday morning that there is a significant chance that Erick will undergo rapid intensification before making landfall. Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period. 

A Hurricane Watch has been issued in Mexico from Bahia De Huatulco to Punta Maldonado.

A Tropical Storm Watch was issued from Salina Cruz to Bahia De Huatulco.

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

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

According to the FOX Forecast Center, landfall could happen in Mexico, where 3-5 inches of rain is expected to fall. Localized pockets of up to 8 inches of rain are possible.

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

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