Erick (2007)

A tropical wave that moved off Africa in mid-July crossed Central America and developed a weak low in the eastern Pacific at the end of July. The system became Tropical Depression Eight-E on 31 July 2007 about 925 nautical miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, strengthened into Tropical Storm Erick on 1 August, and moved generally westward over open water. Strong easterly wind shear prevented further strengthening; Erick weakened to a depression by 2 August, lost its closed circulation that same day, and its remnants moved westward before dissipating several hundred miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands on 8 August.

Erick did not make landfall. Its entire life was over the open eastern and central North Pacific; the low that briefly reformed within its remnants entered the central Pacific basin on 4 August and later dissipated well away from land.

The storm’s maximum intensity was 35 knots (40 mph) with a minimum central pressure around 1004 mb. At peak it was a minimal tropical storm (below hurricane strength) and never exceeded that intensity.

Because Erick remained far offshore, there were no reported storm surge measurements or significant rainfall impacts recorded at populated locations in Mexico, Hawaii, or U.S. territories in the official report. No coastal surge heights or discrete heavy-rainfall totals in named cities or counties were cited.

There were no confirmed casualties or damage reports associated with Erick. The greatest impacts were its brief classification as a tropical storm over open ocean and the eventual decay of its circulation as shear increased.

Notable aspects of Erick include its rapid classification once convection wrapped closer to the center and the difficulty forecasters had in anticipating the timing of genesis. Forecast track and intensity errors for Erick were below long-term averages in the small sample of verified forecasts, but the storm formed without prior mention in late outlooks and dissipated sooner than expected.